Bournemouth opened the 2025/26 Premier League season with a spirited defeat at Anfield to big spenders Liverpool, in a game where the Cherries managed to level the scores after going 2-0 down, only to succumb to two late goals by Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah, handing the Reds an opening day win.
After the game, Bournemouth boss, Andoni Iraola, praised his players for the performance and believed they could have got something from the game.
Fans of the Cherries also agreed on social media with many still content despite the result.
With this in mind, VAVEL reached out to supporters of the club to gauge the fans’ feelings and what they expect the club to achieve by the end of May next year.
Very confident despite awkward pre-season
Despite a summer of upheaval and a mediocre pre-season, Oli from @SimplyAFCB still believes the club are well placed to kick on.
“I believe we are on course to have a great season,” he told VAVEL, pointing to the way the club has swiftly moved on from key departures and brought in like-for-like replacements.
*“The addition of Adrien Truffert has proved to be successful in the short term and the first game of the season against Liverpool,”* he said, whilst highlighting an “impressive debut” for Bafodé Diakité, who slotted straight into the side days after signing.
Talking about pre-season, Oli mentioned that the form was mixed with strong showings against Everton, giving way to “lesser performances" against **Manchester United**and West Ham.
But Oli sees positives even in those tougher outings, noting that the team’s energy and **Iraola**’s style still shone through.
Much of the optimism stems from players already at the club taking a step forward.
*“I also see an improvement in recent signings such as Evanilson, Julian Araujo, Julio Soler and Alex Scott, who can still reach their potential,”* Oli explained.
Coupled with the likes of Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert and the soon-to-return Ryan Christie, he is confident that **Iraola**’s high-energy football will remain intact.
*“It will be a tough task of replacing who we have lost, to make Andoni’s system work,”* he admitted, “but I am very confident”, later adding the club has the potential to, “better last season’s highs and achieve some great things.”
Defensive incomings still needed
For Matt from supporters’ group @utciadafcb, optimism remains high despite a turbulent summer that saw Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Kepa Arrizabalaga,, Illia Zabarnyi and Dango Ouattara all depart.
“I am still very optimistic that Bournemouth can have a good season,” he told VAVEL, pointing to the positive early signs from new arrivals.
Both Djordje Petrovic and Bafodé Diakité “demonstrated” their quality in the opening fixture against Liverpool, offering encouragement that the squad can adapt quickly.
But the Cherries fan is clear on where further work is required: the defence.
“We need to add to this area, another centre back would be welcome,” he said, commenting that reinforcements on the wing would also soften the blow of **Ouattara**’s move to Brentford.
With the window still open, he remains hopeful the club will act.
But the bigger picture provides comfort.
“We are halfway through a five-year plan of achieving Europe,” Matt mentioned, pointing out that few would have predicted last season’s heights.
Even if Europe does not come immediately, a campaign “equally as good as last season” would still mark progress.
Ending on who is set to shine without the spotlight, Matt tipped Marcus Tavernier for this.
*“Whereas Kluivert and Semenyo get all the headlines and Marcus’ stats do not always stand out, and Tavernier is a versatile player who plays in a number of roles. His press play and chance creation are vital to **Iraola*’s style.”
Relegation no worry with Iraola at the wheel
Speaking to Greg from @the_afcb_fanpage, he mentioned that despite a tough early schedule, he believes the team can start positively:
“If we win our home games and pick up a couple points away from home, which we are more than capable of, I think we will surprise those on the outside with a positive start.”
Looking ahead, Greg predicts an 11th-place finish.
“Obviously we have lost some key players but we have replaced them well so far and kept hold of some great quality,” he noted.
A few big wins are expected, similar to last season, but he hopes the team can “improve our cutting edge in front of goal and get better against sides in the bottom half, which was a struggle last season.”
For Matt, relegation is not a concern with Iraola at the helm.
“Relegation will never be a possibility for me if Iraola is in charge. Simple as.”
And speaking on the squad’s key player, Matt was clear in his answer: Tyler Adams:
*“The player to watch is Adams, not in a goal scoring sort of way, but if he can stay fit, I think he could be **Bournemouth*’s most important player this season. He is crucial to the way we play and adds so much calmness and quality.”
Finally, the loss of Zabarnyi is felt deeply.
“He is an absolute Rolls Royce of a centre back and the player I least expected to go this summer out of those who left. He is genuinely world class, hardly put a foot wrong and had a great relationship with the fans, so it was very sad to see him go.”
Despite this, there is still plenty of optimism in the air that the team can achieve the success of last season again.
Club has replaced key assets well
Reaching out to perhaps the club’s most southerly supporters group in Argentina, @BournemouthArg, Dante noted the exits of key players were expected after the heights of last season, but there is optimism the club has managed the transition well.
“We sold very valuable players, but it was logical after an incredible season,” he said, pointing to the need for balance and renewal after such progress.
That renewal has come in the form of Ben Gannon Doak and Amine Adli, two signings who Dante believes will slot naturally into Iraola’s system.
“Gannon Doak* is a promising young player and Adli arrives with a lot of experience in a great team, I think they will adapt well to the team.”*
Both players, Dante suggests, represent a blend of youth and proven pedigree that can keep Bournemouth competitive at the sharp end of the table.
Attention also turned to Alex Scott, who Dante feels could emerge as a driving force in midfield.
“He is a very complete player and a midfielder who, if he is physically fit, will contribute a lot to us.”
For him, Bournemouth may have lost names that carried weight, but the new arrivals, coupled with faith in existing talent, means the squad looks well equipped to continue chasing European ambitions.
Cautious optimism growing
Here at VAVEL, the Bournemouth team also generally agree with these thoughts and feelings as mentioned in the 2025/26 season preview.
A mid-table finish and plenty of incomings seems to be the expectation, with the club’s key players to be found within the attacking positions throughout the campaign.
Despite the less-than-ideal pre-season, the Liverpool performance and recent transfer activity has given cause for more optimism.
As the club continues to move forward, fans will demand more but they should never underestimate a season of consolidation and how it can set the club up for even bigger success.