Despite defeat, Bournemouth’s season started impressively as they came from behind to be briefly level with Liverpool. Late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah secured all three points for the champions.
However, in large parts, the south coast side looked comfortable and as the better team in the affair, with Antoine Semenyo popping up with two moments of brilliance to net two goals.
From positives to negatives, Andoni Iraola had a lot to take away from the game as several new signings made their debuts for the club, and individuals shone under the bright lights.
Looking towards this weekend’s fixtures, the Cherries return home for the first time this season, facing Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Vitality Stadium.
Losing Matheus Cunha in the summer, Wolves had a tough start to their season, losing 4-0 to Manchester City. The Midlands side came into the Premier League season as one of the favourites to be tipped for relegation, while striker Jorgen Strand Larson is also being heavily linked with Newcastle and may be a doubt for Saturday’s fixture.
On the other hand, for Iraola’s side, there are plenty of positives. Since returning from Anfield, Ben Gannon Doak and Amine Adli have been added to the squad, bringing strong and exciting attacking depth for the bench.
Now kicking off the season at home, Bournemouth will look to build on a superb team performance, this time picking up all three points.
Eva needs to eat
Not quite a negative from Friday night’s action, but one of the things that Bournemouth struggled to do at Anfield was to find and supply Evanilson.
Per FutMob, The Cherries’ bagman had the fewest touches (22) of any outfield player that started the match – the Brazilian also recorded just three shots that did not hit the target.
One of **Bournemouth**’s top goal-scorers last season, with 10 Premier League goals, it is understandable that the striker struggled against defenders such as Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate when facing Liverpool. However, against Wolves, the Cherries will look to take advantage of a weak defence.
More possession usually translates into more chances, and against Liverpool, Bournemouth had just 39% of the ball, producing 10 shots on goal. Most of the Cherries’ chances and attacks came on the wings, exposing either Milos Kerkez or Jeremie Frimpong as Iraola’s side counter-attacked.
Against Wolves, it is a considerably slower and flat bad five, meaning Bournemouth will need to rely on Evanilson to create space and find his shooting boost. Instead of Semenyo or David Brooks driving at players, they need to find Evanilson, linking up with him, and supplying him with opportunities to score.
Averaging 2.81 shots per 90 throughout last season, if the Brazilian can get anywhere near that or find the net on Saturday, the Cherries have a great chance of picking up some points.
Additions and energy from the bench
One thing that became clear at the end of **Bournemouth**’s clash with Liverpool was the difference in squad quality and depth.
From the bench, the champions brought on pure quality in Chiesa, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Andrew Robertson, and Wataru Endo, compared to the Cherries, who substituted on Hamed Traore, Ben Winterburn, James Hill, and Eli Junior Kroupi.
Iraola’s side needed to add depth, and that is exactly what they have done. Gannon Doak was the first player to join the club in the week, signing from Liverpool in a deal reportedly worth £21m.
The 19-year-old is a fun and talented winger with considerable potential. Last season out on loan with Middlesbrough, the Scotsman registered three goals and seven assists in the Championship.
In addition to Gannon Doak, the Cherries also added Adli, an energetic and versatile forward, who most recently played for Bayer Leverkusen. A Bundesliga winner in the 2023/24 season, Adli put pen to paper at the club for a package worth around £17m.
Facing a team like Wolves, who are yet to replace Cunha. Depth could be huge, with **Iraola**’s intense style of playing, tiring legs before returning with a second wave of pace from the bench.
Iraola was outstandingly successful last season with goals being scored from substitutes, but as Bournemouth have added some new reinforcements, they might have the ability to replicate a similar return.
Full back importance
In terms of formation and set-up, Bournemouth and Wolves are incredibly different sides. The Cherries typically start in a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on attack with their full-backs flying forward.
On the other hand, Wolves adopt a 3-4-2-1, which transitions to a back-five when out of possession. Last time out, new signing David Moller Wolfe started at left wing-back while Ki-Jana Hoever returned to the side on the right, and Matt Doherty played as a central defender.
It is fair to say that as a squad, Wolves have been weakened and have plenty to do in the transfer window. Compared to Bournemouth, who are getting better by the week, and can get at their opposition’s vulnerabilities.
Iraola’s men have huge quality on the wings in Semenyo and Brooks. However, while they can cause problems for Wolves, the area that they need to damage the away side is through their full-backs as they create overloads.
Making his debut against Liverpool, Adrien Truffert has made a fine start to life in a Cherries shirt. Coming up against Salah in his debut, the Frenchman recorded three clearances, four recoveries, and one block in a fine performance.
Replacing Kerkez, Truffert seems to be the perfect replacement, with his style being a combination of stamina, attack, and confident defensive play.
On the opposite flank is Adam Smith, a veteran full-back who has been a phenomenal servant for the Cherries throughout the years. Now at the age of 34, Smith remains a key cog in the Bournemouth machine, covering 9.9km, and tracking a top speed of 33.5 km/h against **Arne Slot**’s Reds.
Facing a duo that are inexperienced like Hoever and Moller Wolfe, if Truffert and Smith can support in attack, they will simply give the opposition too much to handle as they focus on threats such as Semenyo.
By doubling on the wings in attack, the Cherries will also draw out defenders, creating space in the middle of play and destroying the shape of Pereira’s back five.
Coming into the fixture, Bournemouth will be considered as the favourites as the south coast look to make the perfect start to the season at home.