Bournemouth will aim to continue the excellent run of form in the Premier League when they welcome Fulham to the Vitality Stadium on Friday.
The 2025/26 Premier League season resumes this week with Gameweek 7, as teams look to gather momentum before the upcoming international break. The latest round of fixtures kicks off on Friday with Bournemouth vs Fulham at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth could not have asked for a better start to the 2025/26 season after losing nearly the entire backline that helped them clinch a top-half finish in the Premier League last term. However, Andoni Iraola has given the latest proof of his coaching credentials by guiding the Cherries to sixth in the standings, only two points behind second-placed Arsenal.
However, Iraola will hope his charges return to winning ways after playing out a 2-2 draw with Leeds United last weekend. On the other hand, Fulham endured a frustrating summer transfer window, as they only ramped up their efforts to sign players closer to deadline day.
That has reflected in the West London club’s performances, as they have been a middling team thus far in the 2025/26 season. The Cottagers have won, drawn, and lost two games in six outings amid their goalscoring struggles. However, Marco Silva has forged a solid team that has conceded multiple goals only twice in the Premier League, although they will be eager to return to winning ways after a frustrating 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Bournemouth clinch a 1-0 win over Fulham, with Antoine Semenyo scoring the match-winning goal in the first minute. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bournemouth manager will be bereft of the services of only three first-team players vs Fulham on Friday.
Adam Smith (hamstring) and Enes Unal (knee) remain on the sidelines due to their long-term fitness issues. However, Lewis Cook may be in contention to take on Fulham after recovering from a shoulder injury, although he faces a late fitness test to determine his availability.
Djordje Petrovic is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Fulham on Friday. The backline will feature Alex Jimenez, Bafode Diakite, Marcos Senesi, and Adrien Truffert.
As for the midfield unit, Tyler Adams should line up alongside Alex Scott in the double pivot. Marcus Tavernier should replace Justin Kluivert in the no. 10 spot, with David Brooks joining Antoine Semenyo in the wide attacking pairing. Finally, Evanilson will lead the line for Bournemouth against Fulham on Friday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Semenyo, Tavernier, Brooks; Evanilson
Fulham
Unlike his counterpart in the Bournemouth dugout, Marco Silva has a new issue to worry about ahead of the trip to the Vitality Stadium. The Fulham manager may be without as many as three first-team players on Friday.
Silva is sweating over Raul Jimenez’s fitness after the veteran striker picked up a minor hip injury last weekend against Aston Villa. The Mexican international faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. Meanwhile, Kenny Tete (knee) and Rodrigo Muniz (hamstring) remain in the treatment room.
Bernd Leno will retain his spot between the sticks, with Fulham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth on Friday. The backline will feature Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and Ryan Sessegnon.
As for the midfield unit, Sasa Lukic and Sander Berge are automatic picks in the double pivot, with Joshua King reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Adama Traore will spearhead the Fulham attack against Bournemouth if Jimenez is not fit enough to start. Alex Iwobi and Harry Wilson will line up alongside the central striker on the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Lukic, Berge; Wilson, King, Iwobi; Traore
Key Stats
- Bournemouth have lost only two of their last 16 league games vs Fulham (W8 D6) and just one of their eight most recent ties (W3 D4), going down 3-1 in February 2024. The Cottagers have faced defeat on their last three Premier League visits to Bournemouth, and they could lose four successive away league games against the Cherries for the first time.
- Bournemouth lost four consecutive home Premier League matches between February and April. However, since then, they have picked up 14 points in their seven most recent outings at the Vitality Stadium (W4 D2 L1), keeping four clean sheets.
- Fulham scored first but lost 3-1 away at Aston Villa in Gameweek 6. The Cottagers have now lost four of their seven most recent Premier League games when scoring the opener (W3). In the last two seasons, no side has lost more matches when scoring first than Fulham (7).
- Marco Silva won his first away Premier League match against Bournemouth as the Everton manager in August 2017 (2-0). However, since then, the Portuguese tactician has won only one point in five at the Vitality Stadium, losing the four most recent outings.
- Raul Jimenez has scored five Premier League goals in six starts against Bournemouth (four for Wolves, one for Fulham). The only start he did not score in against the Cherries was in a goalless draw for Wolves in August 2022.
Player to Watch
Antoine Semenyo
While Evanilson, Alex Iwobi, and Harry Wilson were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Antoine Semenyo as the Player to Watch for Friday’s Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Fulham at the Vitality Stadium.
The Ghanaian international has scored eight of Bournemouth’s last 15 Premier League goals, and he netted a free-kick against Leeds United last time out. Since the start of April, only Erling Haaland and Jarrod Bowen (9 each) have found the back of the net more than Semenyo (8). So, he will be the go-to man for Andoni Iraola this week against Fulham.
Prediction
Bournemouth 1-0 Fulham
Friday’s Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Fulham should follow the pattern of the corresponding fixture from the 2025/26 season. While the hosts have an excellent record at the Vitality Stadium since April, Marco Silva’s men are one of the most defensively resilient teams in the top flight.
So, it will not be a straightforward victory for either side, and it will remain unclear if Bournemouth or Fulham can clinch three points until the dying embers. However, Antoine Semenyo will deliver the goods again, earning the home side another impressive victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-0 win for Andoni Iraola and his charges.
