European hopefuls Bournemouth are on their travels in the Premier League this weekend as they face bottom-of-the-table Southampton.
The Cherries have been the talk of the town at the start of 2025, with statement victories over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle thrusting them into a position of strength in the top half of the league table.
However, a 2-0 home defeat to league leaders Liverpool stifled their momentum, and they head in Saturday’s contest seventh in the table amid a hotly-contested race for a top-four spot.
These two teams had contrasting fortunes in the FA Cup last week. While Bournemouth bounced back from their defeat to the Reds by beating Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park, Southampton were knocked out by Championship promotion candidates Burnley at St Mary’s.
Relegation is inevitable for Ivan Juric’s side, but a 2-1 win at Ipswich two weeks ago at least gives them hopes of not emerging as the Premier League’s worst-ever team. They’ve accumulated just nine points through 24 games and need three more to beat Derby’s measly haul of 11 from 2007/08. Three draws will do!
Here is 90min’s guide to Saturday’s Premier League clash.
Southampton vs Bournemouth head-to-head record (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Southampton |
Bournemouth |
|---|---|
|
Southampton 0-1 Burnley – 08/02/25 |
Everton 0-2 Bournemouth – 08/02/25 |
|
Ipswich 1-2 Southampton – 01/02/25 |
Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool – 01/02/25 |
|
Southampton 1-3 Newcastle – 25/01/25 |
Bournemouth 5-0 Nottingham Forest – 25/01/25 |
|
Nottingham Forest 3-2 Southampton – 19/01/25 |
Newcastle 1-4 Bournemouth – 18/01/25 |
|
Man Utd 3-1 Southampton – 16/01/25 |
Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth – 14/01/25 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Not televised – live radio commentary on BBC Radio Solent (audio broadcast only) |
|
United States |
Peacock |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada |
Southampton’s injury list remains fairly extensive, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis among those currently sidelined. Jack Stephens has been out for a lengthy period with a calf injury, while Ross Stewart, Juan Larios and Ryan Fraser are also missing.
Juric left Flynn Downes out of his squad for last week’s defeat to Burnley, and it remains to be seen whether the pair’s dispute has been resolved in time for Saturday’s game.
Adam Lallana is a doubt with a hamstring issue, but Saints supporters shouldn’t have to endure more Alex McCarthy this weekend with Aaron Ramsdale poised to come back into the starting XI.
Southampton predicted lineup vs Bournemouth (3-4-2-1): Ramsdale; Bree, Bednarek, Wood; Walker-Peters, Aribo, Ugochukwu, Welington; Fernandes, Dibling; Onuachu
The Cherries’ success in 2025 has been made all the more impressive by the number of players they have out. Their woes on that front are unlikely to disappear by the weekend.
Dango Ouattara will remain Iraola’s starter up top with Evanilson and Enes Unal still out, while Lewis Cook has operated as a makeshift right-back in recent weeks with Adam Smith absent through injury.
Bournemouth are also without Alex Scott, Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, and Julio Soler. James Hill and Luis Sinisterra are both doubts.
Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Southampton (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara.
The Saints enjoyed a rare Premier League victory two weeks ago, but their positive momentum was sapped by Burnley in the FA Cup last week.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, responded well to their defeat to Liverpool, during which they performed well, by winning at Goodison Park. They’re back on track, and although they’ve got a couple of holes at right-back and up top, it’s hard to envisage anything but a comfortable away win on Saturday.
