Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace
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Team news reminder...
Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Unal.
Subs: Travers, Brooks, Evanilson, Adams, Hill, Philip, Kinsey, Winterburn, Harris.
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze.
Subs: Turner, Schlupp, Clyne, Kamada, Richards, Doucoure, Devenny, Kporha, Agbinone.
Here come the teams!
Bournemouth and Crystal Palace walk out onto the Vitality Stadium pitch - and kick-off is moments away!
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Jones Knows: Sarr to get stuck in
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
"No team have made more tackles in the Premier League than Crystal Palace (709) since February 1 and this encounter could be a tackle frenzy.
"Ismaila Sarr is not only contributing from an attacking standpoint, he's getting stuck in off the ball too with his tackle count soaring in recent weeks.
"He has made at least one tackle in six of his last seven appearances, totalling 10 tackles in all. The fact he plays more centrally than he's done in the past is seeing him encounter tight spaces and turnover opportunities hence why more tackles are being racked up.
"The 11/4 with Sky Bet for Sarr to register two or more tackles is a price to consider."
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
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Teams of the season? Forest and Bournemouth are doing it differently
Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth are in the top five at Christmas not by copying clubs with bigger budgets but by trying to win differently. That should be celebrated...
Teams of the season Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest and Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth doing it differently
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What is the target now for Bournemouth?
Andoni Iraola said in his pre-match press conference: “I will be very happy to talk to you in different circumstances, if this was April – but it is not April.
“This is still very early in the season, so we will have to continue.
“When you asked me before the season about targets, I answered you the same – I don’t believe in long-term targets.
“Because if you lose three games are you going to change your target? Or if you win three games are you going to change your target? So let’s see.
“Last season, we were 12th, so this is our level – this season, I don’t know, nobody knows.
“We will see, but not now. You will see when you count us (with our points) at the end."
Iraola eyes efficiency in both boxes as Bournemouth seek further progress
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola feels efficiency in both boxes will be key to his side’s hopes of continued progress into 2025.
The Cherries beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday to extend their unbeaten Premier League run to five games and they sit fifth in the table.
Iraola, though, knows those impressive statistics will soon count for nothing if Bournemouth do not maintain their performance levels through the hectic festive schedule.
“I want to be as efficient as we can,” the Bournemouth boss said.
“If we can continue with the level in both boxes that we had on Sunday, it will be much easier – but this is not a guarantee.
“As long as we continue creating chances and having the performances we are having, I think we will be fine.
“This is easy to say – but it is not easy to keep this consistency during a long period.”
Last time out: Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth
Iraola in no mood to get carried away by Bournemouth’s impressive form
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is glad supporters are allowing themselves to dream of European football but will keep his squad grounded as they look to push on through the second half of the season.
The Cherries sit fifth in the Premier League table following a 3-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday when the away fans revelled in chants about hopes of a European tour in 2025.
It was the latest in a string of impressive displays by Iraola’s well-drilled team, who have beaten both Arsenal and Manchester City at home this season.
While things are looking very positive for the south-coast club heading into the new year, Iraola intends to focus on the here and now rather than dream of what might happen come May.
“They (fans) are enjoying it because the team is performing well and the ones who went to Old Trafford had a good time for sure,” Iraola said.
“But you do not always need to be thinking about the maths in the table, just (for the team to) be competitive, so enjoy it and support your team, try to to do it all together.
“This is the best way, then let us see at the end (of the season), but it is very early, so for me we cannot start talking about these things.”
Last time out: Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal
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Expected formations...
Eze returns to start for Crystal Palace
Eberechi Eze starts for Crystal Palace after returning from injury.
Eze missed Palace's 5-1 defeat at home to Arsenal and comes in for Daichi Kamada as boss Oliver Glasner makes three changes.
Daniel Munoz replaces Nathaniel Clyne at right-wing back while Trevoh Chalobah comes into the back three for Chris Richards.
Bournemouth drop Evanilson to bench
Evanilson drops to the bench for Bournemouth, who have made three changes from their 3-0 win at Manchester United.
Enes Unal starts up front instead while Max Aarons comes in at right-back with Lewis Cook in midfield.
Tyler Adams is benched while Adam Smith is not in the squad due to a knock.
Bournemouth remain without Julian Araujo, Marcos Senesi, Marcus Tavernier and Alex Scott due to injury.
Crystal Palace team news
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze.
Subs: Turner, Schlupp, Clyne, Kamada, Richards, Doucoure, Devenny, Kporha, Agbinone.
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Bournemouth team news
Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Unal.
Subs: Travers, Brooks, Evanilson, Adams, Hill, Philip, Kinsey, Winterburn, Harris.
Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.