Andoni Iraola’s team fell to two 2-1 defeats at the hands of the Seagulls last term, but come into the game on good early form this season, with their visitors also making a solid start.
The Daily Echo previews the visit of Brighton to the Vitality Stadium.
Team news
Iraola will be hopeful of having a nearly fully fit squad to choose from, provided those who went out to their national teams over the break return unscathed.
Marcus Tavernier*(Image: Richard Crease)*
There was hope that Lewis Cook would return to the squad over the break after injury, so he may now be available for selection.
Recent returnee from injury Ryan Christie picked up good minutes for Scotland over the break, so he may be in line to start.
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Enes Unal is ruled out as a long-term injury, while Adam Smith picked up a problem at Spurs so will likely be unavailable, too.
For Brighton, Fabian Hurzeler will be without Adam Webster, Solly March and Julio Enciso, while Mats Wieffer is likely to return having missed the Seagulls’ victory over Man City.
Head-to-head
Brighton have the better record against the Cherries in recent history, winning six of the past eight games between the two sides in the Premier League.
Bournemouth have won the other two – a 3-0 win under Iraola in April 2024, and a 3-1 victory back in January 2020.
Antoine Semenyo*(Image: Richard Crease)*
Last season, the Seagulls edged out the Dorset side in both games, winning 2-1 in November and again in February.
The first of those two games saw the Cherries concede goals four minutes into each half, and, after Carlos Baleba was sent off with half an hour to play, they threw everything at their visitors to rescue something.
But, despite David Brooks’ stoppage time goal and Antoine Semenyo hitting the bar with the final play of the game, they fell short.
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In the return fixture, Bournemouth trailed 1-0 at the break after a poor first half, but equalised through a wonderful Justin Kluivert goal, before a Danny Welbeck winner broke Cherries hearts 15 minutes from time.
Form
The Cherries come into the game on good form – they have collected six points from their opening three games, with three good performances.
Although falling to a 4-2 defeat to Liverpool on the opening day, Bournemouth ran them close, before picking up victories over Wolves and Spurs.
Tyler Adams*(Image: Richard Crease)*
Both were 1-0 with dominant Cherries performances, and arguably should have seen Iraola’s team win by a greater margin.
Brighton have won one, lost one and drawn one so far this season, seeing them sat 11th in the league.
A draw on the opening day to Fulham after a late Cottagers equaliser was followed by a 2-0 defeat in Everton’s first home game at their new stadium.
But they followed this up with a good win over Manchester City in the final game before the international break, James Milner and Brajan Gruda scoring in a 2-1 win.
AFC Bournemouth host Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, September 13, kick off at 3pm.