Follow live coverage as AFC Bournemouth face Brighton & Hove Albion today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
AFC Bournemouth 1 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion FC
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:58Brighton conceded a very late equaliser against Wolves a few weeks ago and they would be very nervous for these final couple of minutes just when the game seemed to be comfortably in control.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:58Yellow Card Lewis John Cook
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:58Yellow Card Jan Paul van Hecke
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:55Assist Enes Ünal
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:54Goal David Robert Brooks
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:54Brighton attack on the counter and Adingra does well to skip past a couple of defenders and find Mitoma centrally just a few yards outside the box. However, his attempt to play the ball to Adingra, who had made his way into the box by then, is easily collected by Kepa.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:53Brighton are cruising towards a very valuable three points away from home as six minutes of stoppage time have been added to see through this game.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:52Bournemouth have had seven shots on goal in just the second half to only two from Brighton and have also had 19 touches in the opposition box to only five from Brighton. Meanwhile, Brooks delivers a cross from the right and Semenyo jumps high to meet it with his head, but guides the attempt over.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:47Substitution Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck Evan Joe Ferguson
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:46Brighton make a rare attacking move that seems promising, but O'Riley attempts a very weak shot at the near post and it comfortably misses the target.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:45Unal misses! Into the game and straight into the thick of the action, Unal meets Ouattara's incoming cross from the left with a header that just about misses the target. It has been that kind of a day for the Cherries.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:45Unal comes on for Kerkez as Bournemouth make another change.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:43Brooks takes a wild swipe at goal from about 25 yards out after finding a good amount of open space, but his shot is very wayward and well off the target.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:41SOLID SAVE from Verbruggen! Kerkez delivers a cross from the left to find an unmarked Evanlison, who heads the ball towards goal only for Verbruggen to show good reflexes and catch hold of the ball which was on its way into the back of the net.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:37Substitution Yasin Abbas Ayari Matthew Sean O'Riley
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:36Substitution Adam James Smith Maximillian James Aarons
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:36Semenyo fires in a cross from the right flank and Outtara is denied as he tries to meet the cross with a strong header at the near post. Brighton clear their lines without much fuss.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:36Substitution Justin Dean Kluivert David Robert Brooks
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:33Bournemouth enjoy a good phase of possession with Brighton sitting very deep. But once again, the Cherries waste another attacking move and Brighton don't need to do much to keep them at bay.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:32Despite having more possession and now also having one player more on the pitch than their opponents, Bournemouth are looking nowhere close to making something happen in this game. Time is running out quite quickly for them and Brighton seem happy to just keep the ball whenever they win it and are trying to slow down the game when possible.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:26Save from Verbruggen! Semenyo fires a low shot towards goal from just inside the box, but his attempt is saved by the Brighton keeper and is out for a Bournemouth corner. The corner-kick coming in from the left is easily dealt with by the Brighton defence.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:26Substitution Marcos Nicolás Senesi Barón Dean Donny Huijsen
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:25Substitution Tyler Shaan Adams Dango Aboubacar Faissal Ouattara
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:25Substitution Georginio Lucius Rutter Simon Kofi Adingra
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:24Bournemouth have again done better in terms of making 16 final third entries already in the second half to only four from Brighton, but they are still without a goal while the Seagulls have managed to double their lead.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:20Yellow 2nd/RC Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:20Verbruggen comes off his line to reach an incoming ball from Semenyo before Evanilson can get to it. The Bournemouth striker would have been offside anyway but Verbruggen wasn't taking any chances on that occasion.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:18Bournemouth have the chance to win four matches in a row on home turf in the top-flight for the very first time, but that opportunity seems to be slipping away with each passing minute here. They continue to lack that conviction and the momentum is also completely against them now.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:16Evanilson misses a big chance! The ball is pulled back to the Bournemouth striker, who opens his right foot up and his sidefooted shot just a few yards from the target and centrally inside the box is just wide of the target. He should have done a lot better there and that's probably the story of the game so far for the hosts.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:10Assist João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:09Goal Kaoru Mitoma
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:09There is still a very strong wind causing problems for both sets of players and it is Brighton's turn to attack against the stronger force of the wind in the second half. There has been no drama in the first couple of minutes since the restart, barring a foul by Cook in the middle part of the pitch.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:07We are back underway at Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth get things going in the second half. Neither side has made any changes just yet but expect the substitutions to flow in as we progress in this second half.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:01Bournemouth edged the expected goals (xG) numbers in the first half, registering an xG of 0.57 to Brighton's 0.49. The hosts made 32 final third entries compared to Brighton's 22 and also had six shots on goal (two on target) to four from Brighton (three on target). Brighton are now heavy favourites to win this game with Opta's Live Win Probability model showing a 61.3% probability of a win for the Seagulls to only 14.7% for the Cherries.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:57Bournemouth are the more frustrated of the two sides going into the break as they have been better but are still trailing visitors Brighton. The Seagulls' goal came very early in the proceedings as Pedro tapped one in off a save by Kepa. Brighton have hardly created any chances since then, while the Cherries created chance after chance but were let down by a combination of their poor finishing, a good save by Verbruggen off an attempt by Evanilson, and a disallowed goal for offside. Brighton ended the first half with marginally higher possession of 52.9% to Bournemouth's 47.1%.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:52HALF-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 BRIGHTON
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:51Pedro charges down the left and pulls the ball across into the danger area for Rutter. The latter tries to flick it into goal but Kerkez makes a very good block sliding to his right. Bournemouth earn a goal kick as the last touch came off a Brighton player.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:48Brighton are happy to play it around at the back to see off the first half and maintain their lead. Meanwhile, five minutes have been added at the back end of this half.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:47Yellow Card Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:46GOAL DISALLOWED FOR OFFSIDE! Semenyo slips Kluivert in behind and he sets it up for Evanilson, who just needs to tap it into the open goal. The flag goes up soon after Evanilson put the ball into the back of the net as Kluivert seems to be the one who was offside. There was a VAR check but the onfield decision stands and Bournemouth are still without their equaliser.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:41Brighton appeal for a foul just on the edge of the box as Pedro goes down after a collision with Senesi. He stays down for a bit after landing awkwardly once again, but there is absolutely no doubt regarding a potential penalty as there was no malice in the challenge. It was only a case of both players vying for the ball.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:41Yellow Card Antoine Serlom Semenyo
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:39Bournemouth have been the better of the two sides so far but are still trailing. They have made many more final third entries and also have more touches in the opposition box, but are strongly lacking conversion when trying to make something happen in the final third.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:37Cook wants a penalty but the referee is having none of it. He goes down in the box after running with the ball off a quickly taken corner as Estupinan brings him down. He is desperate for a penalty but it seems that the challenge was fair and that was a good decision by the referee. The game goes on.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:36Cook takes a free-kick which could go down as one of the worst of the season. He tries to send the ball into the box from a deep position inside his own half, but his attempt goes straight out of play and nowhere close to any of his teammates.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:32Kluivert comes close but misses! Semenyo slips Kerkez in down the left. The latter puts the ball into the danger area for Kluivert, whose shot taken first time is just wide of the bottom corner. Another chance that goes begging for the Cherries.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:32Rutter is booked for delaying a restart, much to his displeasure.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:31Another Bournemouth move fizzles out this time as Cook hits an attempted long ball straight to Baleba. Meanwhile, Evanilson wins a free-kick for Bournemouth in the middle part of the pitch and they get the opportunity to launch another attack.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:27After the early dominance from Brighton, Bournemouth have looked like the side in much more control over the last 15 minutes or so. Another ball from the left flank this time is swung in but Brighton do well to clear their lines.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:26Pedro goes down in the middle part of the pitch after what seemed like a push from Cook. He stays down for a bit and the referee halts play. Pedro landed awkwardly after tripping. Thankfully for Brighton, their main man is up and running soon after.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:22BIG CHANCE! Evanilson fails to convert as Verbruggen comes to Brighton's rescue. Evanilson breaks in behind the defence and finds his way into the box. He takes the shot off a tight angle and Verbruggen saves the shot at the near post and parries it away.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:21Corner for Bournemouth, their first one of the game! The Cherries work a corner routine and the ball falls to Kluivert on the edge of the box, but his attempted volley towards goal is easily collected by the Brighton keeper. He did not get the timing he was looking for on that shot.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:19Semenyo concedes a free-kick with a foul on Veltman in his own box down the touchline and Brighton have won the ball back after a good spell of possession for the hosts. After a quick start, the sting has just gone out of the game over the last five minutes or so.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:17Bournemouth have enjoyed good possession in the last few minutes but they haven't looked very threatening with the ball. It definitely doesn't look easy with the wind blowing in the opposite direction and you can see that the Cherries are struggling with it.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:15Bournemouth earn a free-kick after Veltman fouls Semenyo. The resulting set-piece is delivered by Tavernier Semenyo meets it but he is pulled back quickly for offside. Soon after, the duo combine again as Tavernier delivers one into the middle for Semenyo from the right flank. However, Semenyo fails to steer the header towards goal.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:15Pedro has now been directly involved in seven goals in his last nine Premier League appearances (5 goals, 2 assists) and the man-in-form has stepped up again. Brighton's front line is looking very good so far.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:10Senesi plays a diagonal pass for Tavernier to the right, but the latter can't get to it in time and the ball goes out for a goal kick. Bournemouth rocked early here and Brighton have managed to silence the crowd. The Seagulls also have the more favourable conditions in the first half, attacking with the very strong wind today.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:05GOOOOOALLLL! Pedro scores for a second consecutive game and Brighton are up already at the Vitality.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:04Bournemouth are strong favourites to win this match with Opta's Live Win Probability model showing a 41.2% probability of a win for the hosts and 33.7% for Brighton. Meanwhile, Bournemouth have come close already as Semenyo takes a swipe at one from about 25 yards out, but his low effort towards the bottom-left corner just about evades the target and a diving Verbruggen.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:01The teams are making their way out to the pitch, the managers and players are ready, and so are the fans who have turned up in huge numbers on a cold and windy winter's day! Brighton have lost four of their five Premier League visits to Vitality Stadium, with the exception being a 2-0 win in April last year. However, owing to their great run of form to start this season, can they improve that record today? Let’s find out.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:01KICK-OFF! We are underway in this clash at Vitality Stadium as visitors Brighton get the ball rolling. The last time these two sides faced each other was in April this year with Bournemouth securing a 3-0 win at this venue. Can they repeat such a victory against a seemingly stronger Brighton side?
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:57Brighton have made two changes to their starting XI from the 2-1 win over Manchester City before the break. Joao Pedro, who came off the bench to score the winner in that game, starts today, and so does Carlos Baleba. Jack Hinshelwood is out with a knee injury, while Simon Adringra is benched. Lewis Dunk is still not fit to be part of the matchday squad.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:52Andoni Iraola has made just the solitary change to the starting XI of his Bournemouth side that lost 3-2 to Brentford in their previous game. Marcus Tavernier replaces the suspended Ryan Christie, while Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez are both fit to start after being doubtful for this game owing to injuries.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:47SUBS: Brajan Gruda, Julio Enciso, Simon Adingra, Jason Steele, Mats Wieffer, Evan Ferguson, Matt O'Riley, Ruairi McConville, Imari Samuels.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:47BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Bart Verbruggen; Pervis Estupinan, Igor Julio, Jan Paul van Hecke, Joel Veltman; Yasin Ayari, Carlos Baleba; Kaoru Mitoma, Joao Pedro, Georginio Rutter; Danny Welbeck.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:41SUBS: Dean Huijsen, David Brooks, Dango Ouattara, James Hill, Enes Unal, Philip Billing, Max Aarons, Mark Travers, Max Kinsey.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:41BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Milos Kerkez, Marcos Senesi, Illia Zabarnyi, Adam Smith; Tyler Adams, Lewis Cook; Marcus Tavernier, Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo; Evanilson.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:41Brighton would have probably felt as if the international break came at the wrong time for them, having just snapped a three-game winless run across competitions with a stunning 2-1 victory over Manchester City with two late goals from Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley proving to be the difference. The Seagulls, one of four teams tied on 19 points inside the top 6, are currently outside the Champions League places only due to goal difference. But their tally of 19 points from 11 games represents their best start to a top-flight season. While Brighton currently have the worst defensive record among the top teams, they have scored at least a goal in all but one of their games across competitions this season. Injuries have been a big concern for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, but the manager said before the game that Jack Hinshelwood and Carlos Baleba could be fit for this game. In more good news, captain Lewis Dunk could feature against Bournemouth after a month away due to a calf injury.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:36Bournemouth went into the break on the back of a 3-2 defeat against Brentford at the Gtech, extending their poor away form that has now seen them winless in 12 games away from the Vitality Stadium. However, they are a completely different side at home and they go into today’s clash with Brighton on a three-match home winning run, which includes victories against Arsenal and Manchester City. Andoni Iraola's side have been particularly impressive off the ball this season, with the second-most pressures recorded by any team in the league. However, their 2-0 win over Arsenal is their only clean sheet so far this term. While Iraola expects Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez to be fit, Bournemouth will be forced to make a change in midfield as Ryan Christie faces a one-game suspension for collecting his fifth yellow card this season against Brentford. The Cherries will have high expectations from Evanilson, who has netted in each of his last three league appearances.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:31Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Brighton at Vitality Stadium.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
