Fifth-placed Bournemouth have plenty to cheer about as they enjoy the celebrations and they have a great chance to extend their unbeaten run against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
The Cherries claimed their second 3-0 win at Old Trafford in just over a year on Sunday as Andoni Iraola's side moved above champions Manchester City in the Premier League table. Bournemouth have been one of the standout teams of 2024 and they harbor legitimate aspirations to secure their first taste of European football. They go into Thursday's game having won four of their previous five games.
Palace had enjoyed an impressive unbeaten run of their own before coming up short Arsenal twice last week. The Gunners first knocked them out of the Carabao Cup before being beaten 5-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The result may have flattered the visitors, however, with Palace troubling Mikel Arteta's side as few teams have this season.
The Eagles' winter surge means they are 16th and out of the relegation zone, but their margin on 18th-placed Wolves is just four points.
Here it is 90 minutes guide for this Boxing Day Premier League collision.
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace H2H Record (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Bournemouth |
Crystal Palace |
|---|---|
|
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth – 22/12/24 |
Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal – 21/12/24 |
|
Bournemouth 1-1 Man Utd – 16/12/24 |
Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace – 18/12/24 |
|
Ipswich Town 1-2 Bournemouth – 08/12/24 |
Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace – 15/12/24 |
|
Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham – 05/12/24 |
Crystal Palace 2-2 Man City – 07/12/24 |
|
Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth – 30/11/24 |
Ipswich 0-1 Crystal Palace – 03/12/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live streaming |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Amazon Prime Video |
|
United States |
peacock |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 5 Canada |
The Cherries' injury list has not changed since their triumph at Old Trafford, with Andoni Iraola's side securing hugely impressive results without several key individuals.
Bournemouth are currently operating without starting centre-back Marcos Senesi due to a muscle injury and Marcus Tavernier due to a hamstring problem. Julian Araujo, Alex Scott and Luis Sinisterra are also out.
Evanilson rocked a knock to start on Sunday and should be fine to feature on Boxing Day. Lewis Cook is expected to return to Iraola's midfield to replace Tyler Adams.
Bournemouth predicted formation against Palace (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson.
Eberechi Eze missed the weekend defeat to Arsenal with a foot injury and is a doubt for Thursday's trip to the south coast. of palace The playmaker has struggled to find his best form this season, but missing him on Boxing Day would be a huge blow.
Daichi Kamada looked to fill Eze's void at the weekend and the Japanese is likely to continue in the squad if the Englishman is not fit to feature.
The visitors are still without Adam Wharton with a groin injury. Summer signing Chadi Riad is closing in on a return from a knee injury but won't be back until 2025. Matheus Franca is nursing a broken rib.
Daniel Munoz is eligible to return from suspension.
Palace predicted formation against Bournemouth (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Kamada; The tests.
Bournemouth go into the competition in good spirits but a banana skin awaits them on Boxing Day. This will be seen as a must-win game for the hosts, but Palace have been impressive of late and you shouldn't read too much into Saturday's 5-1 defeat. That match was much closer than the score suggests.
Eze's absence is a blow, but the Englishman has struggled for form this season and Oliver Glasner has undoubtedly ensured that Palace are once again a tricky proposition. Bournemouth's directness is capable of causing the Premier League outfit some trouble, but the hosts may succumb to hints of complacency on Boxing Day.
After the climax of another Old Trafford strike, Bournemouth could be made to work hard by their visitors on Thursday.