Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion will be eager to remain in the exhilarating top-four race when they clash at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
The 2024/25 Premier League season resumes this weekend after the international break with Gameweek 12. The latest round of fixtures will start with the game between Leicester City and Chelsea at the King Power Stadium. The action then resumes with five simultaneous matches, including Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth would have hoped to challenge for a top-half finish after a solid debut season under Andoni Iraola. However, the club’s fans might not have envisioned a potential top-four battle, with third-placed Chelsea only four points ahead. The Cherries have lost only one of their last four top-flight outings, although that defeat came in the game before the international break.
On the other hand, Brighton & Hove Albion are level on points with Chelsea and two more clubs, with the team firmly in the race for a top-four finish. Fabian Hurzeler has taken no time to get his ideas across, with his charges losing only twice in 11 outings thus far. In addition, the Seagulls sprang a surprise before the international break by beating Manchester City to blow the top-four chase wide open.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Bournemouth cruise to a 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, with Marcos Senesi, Enes Unal, and Justin Kluivert finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bournemouth manager might be bereft of the services of five first-team players vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Iraola has been sweating over the fitness of Antoine Semenyo, with the Ghanaian international recovering from a knee injury. The 24-year-old is closing in on being fit, but Iraola will take a late call on his involvement. However, Julian Araujo (hamstring), Alex Scott (knee), Luis Sinisterra (thigh), and Dango Ouattara (groin) remain on the sidelines.
Kepa Arrizabalaga will take his spot between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. The backline should feature Adam Smith, Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Seneso, and Milos Kerkez.
As for the midfield unit, Tyler Adams should pair up with Lewis Cook in the double pivot. Justin Kluivert will likely reprise the no. 10 role, with Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier being the two wide attackers. Finally, Evanilson should lead the line for Bournemouth against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Adams, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson
Brighton & Hove Albion
Like his counterpart in the Bournemouth dugout, Fabian Hurzeler has several issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Vitality Stadium. The Brighton & Hove Albion manager might be without as many as eight first-team players on Saturday.
James Milner (hamstring) and Solomon March (knee) are long-term absentees. In addition, Hurzeler is sweating over the fitness of Lewis Dunk (calf), Adam Webster (hamstring), Tariq Lamptey (calf), Jack Hinshelwood (knee), Ferdi Kadioglu (ankle), and Yasin Ayari (ankle). However, most players should be fit and available to take on Bournemouth.
Bart Verbruggen will take his place between the sticks, with Brighton & Hove Albion lining up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth on Saturday. The backline should feature Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Hecke, Igor, and Pervis Estupinan.
As for the midfield unit, Matt O’Riley and the fit-again Carlos Baleba should pair up in the double pivot, with Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma being the two wide attackers. Finally, Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro should pair up in the attacking third. Pedro should drop off to link up with the midfielders and the wide attackers, with Welbeck spearheading the offensive unit.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Verbruggen; Veltman, van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Adingra, O’Riley, Baleba, Mitoma; Pedro, Welbeck
Key Stats
- Bournemouth have won four of their five Premier League home games vs Brighton & Hove Albion (L1), their highest win rate against any side they have faced more than three times at the Vitality Stadium (80%). The Seagulls have won three of their last four Premier League games against Bournemouth, although the exception was a 3-0 loss in the most recent meeting in this exact fixture last term.
- Bournemouth have won their last three Premier League home games, and they could win four matches in a row on home turf in the top flight for the first time.
- Brighton & Hove Albion have won three of their five most recent Premier League games (D1 L1), as many victories as they managed across their previous 16 league matches (D6 L7). Only Liverpool (13) have won more points than the Seagulls (10) in the top-flight since the beginning of October.
- Only Tottenham (121) and Manchester City (103) have recorded more “high turnovers” than Brighton & Hove Albion (99) in the Premier League this season. However, only Wolverhampton Wanderers (4) have scored more goals in the competition following such a turnover than Bournemouth (3).
- Evanilson has scored in his last three Premier League appearances. He could become the second Bournemouth player to net in four successive outings in the top flight after Callum Wilson in September 2019.
Player to Watch
Danny Welbeck
Both teams have in-form players setting the Premier League alight with their performances. While Antoine Semenyo was a viable candidate for this section, we have picked Danny Welbeck as our Player to Watch for Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion.
The veteran English striker is enjoying a late career renaissance, amassing six goals and two assists in 11 Premier League appearances thus far this term. With Welbeck firing on all cylinders, Brighton will hope he continues this run as they hope for a surprise charge for a top-four finish.
Prediction
Bournemouth 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
As iterated earlier, Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion boast two of the most in-form players in the Premier League this season. So, Saturday’s match should not be short of goalmouth action, with Antoine Semenyo and Danny Welbeck making their mark again.
In addition, with Evanilson finding his feet, an action-packed match is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts an enthralling clash at the Vitality Stadium, and there might not be much to separate the two sides. We expect a 2-2 draw between Bournemouth and Brighton this weekend.
