Bournemouth will aim to continue an exceptional start to the 2025/26 season when they welcome Newcastle United to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.
The curtains will fall on Gameweek 5 of the 2025/26 Premier League on Sunday. The action on the day will start with two simultaneous matches, including Bournemouth vs Newcastle United at the Vitality Stadium.
The new campaign has once again proven Andoni Iraola’s credentials as one of the finest young managers in the sport. Even though Bournemouth lost almost the entire defensive unit from the 2024/25 season, the Spanish tactician has forged another solid backline while retaining the usual offensive output. That has taken the Cherries up to the top four, with only Liverpool having more points than them.
On the other hand, Newcastle United finally clinched a win in the 2025/26 season for the first time in Gameweek 4 after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0. However, the Magpies have struggled for goals this term, finding the back of the net in only three of their five outings thus far. Meanwhile, five points in four Premier League games have left the Tyneside outfit tenth in the standings.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Newcastle United come from a goal down to hold Bournemouth to a 1-1 draw, with Anthony Gordon scoring the equaliser. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bournemouth manager will be bereft of the services of only two first-team players vs Newcastle United on Sunday.
Ryan Christie is fit and available after recovering from a knock. Additionally, Bafode Diakite is in contention to take on Newcastle United after resuming training, although he faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Adam Smith (hamstring) and Enes Unal (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Djordje Petrovic is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Newcastle United on Sunday. The backline should feature James Hill, Veljko Milosavljevic, Marcos Senesi, and Adrien Truffert.
As for the midfield unit, Tyler Adams will pair up with Alex Scott in the double pivot, with Ryan Christie also an option if he is fully fit. Marcus Tavernier will reprise the no. 10 role, with David Brooks and Antoine Semenyo being the two wide attackers. Finally, Evanilson will lead the line for Bournemouth against Newcastle United on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Hill, Milosavljevic, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Evanilson
Newcastle United
Unlike his counterpart in the Bournemouth dugout, Eddie Howe has a new injury concern to worry about ahead of the trip to St. James’ Park. The Newcastle United manager will be without four first-team players on Sunday.
Fabian Schar is the latest absentee after picking up a head injury against Barcelona. The Swiss international has joined Jacob Ramsey (ankle) and Yoane Wissa (knee) in the treatment room. Additionally, Anthony Gordon continues to serve a suspension after being sent off against Liverpool last month.
Nick Pope will retain his spot between the sticks, with Newcastle United lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him against Bournemouth on Sunday. The backline should feature Valentino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, and Lewis Hall.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton. Finally, Nick Woltemade will spearhead the Newcastle United attack against Bournemouth, with Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade, Barnes
Key Stats
- After the 4-1 win at St. James’ Park in January, Bournemouth can win successive Premier League games vs Newcastle United for only the second time ever after November 2017. The Cherries are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against the Tyneside outfit (W2 D4). However, the Magpies have only lost on one of their seven Premier League visits to Bournemouth (W2 D4), a loss rate of 14%. Among teams they have visited as many or more times in the competition, only in away ties against Wolverhampton Wanderers (10%) and Nottingham Forest (0%) have they lost a lower percentage of away games.
- Since a 4-2 opening day defeat to Liverpool, Bournemouth’s subsequent three Premier League fixtures have ended in victories; the Cherries have won four successive games in the competition twice before, in December 2023 and August 2018 under current Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
- Newcastle United have gone three away Premier League games without scoring (D2 L1), with the last two matches ending goalless. The Magpies most recently went four successive top-flight outings without an away goal in December and January in the 2020/21 season, while only Leicester City in 1976/77 drew the first three top-flight matches on the road in a season goalless.
- No side has kept more clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Newcastle United (3). The Magpies also have the lowest expected goals against total (2.1).
- Newcastle United (31) and Bournemouth (29) are two of the three sides with the most high turnovers in the Premier League thus far in the 2025/26 season. The two clubs rank first and second for pressed sequences in the competition (Newcastle – 57, Bournemouth – 49).
Player to Watch
Antoine Semenyo
While Evanilson, Nick Woltemade, and Anthony Elanga were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Antoine Semenyo as the Player to Watch for Sunday’s Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Newcastle United at the Vitality Stadium.
No player has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than Semenyo (5 – G3 A2). Meanwhile, only Cody Gakpo (5) has created more chances following a carry than the London-born attacker (4). So, it is hardly surprising that the Ghanaian international will be the go-to man for Andoni Iraola in the final third amid Bournemouth’s search for another victory.
Prediction
Bournemouth 1-0 Newcastle United
Newcastle United’s struggles to score goals on the road may continue this weekend, considering Bournemouth’s defensive solidity and the away side’s poor offensive and creative outputs. Additionally, Eddie Howe has a dreadful record against Bournemouth.
Howe has never beaten his former side in six attempts in the Premier League (D4 L2). The Cherries are thus one of three teams he has faced in the competition without winning, along with Luton Town (D1 L1) and Manchester City (D2 L16).
The only manager to take charge of more games against a former Premier League side without winning is Rafael Benitez against Liverpool (7 games), and Howe can equal that tally. That should happen, as The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-0 win for Andoni Iraola and his charges, with Antoine Semenyo delivering the goods again.