Follow live coverage as AFC Bournemouth face Crystal Palace 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 0 - 0 Crystal Palace FC
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:40What a tackle from Adams! You know those videos of old buildings getting taken down by destruction teams? That's what Adams' tackle on Mateta looked like. The giant Frenchman fell so slowly!
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:39Substitution Jean-Philippe Mateta Daichi Kamada
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:37The home side keep their pressure up, yet a cross from the left is just overcooked and Cook can't keep it on over at the right byline.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:37Bournemouth win a corner on the left as Lacroix ushers the ball out. Billing's corner is poor and Mateta nods it out. The hosts then work it back out with Christie before Cook pings a great ball out to Billing with a diagonal to the left. The Dane smashes low and hard and it whizzes past the base of the right post!
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:35Semenyo powers forward for the hosts before Guehi gets his body between him and the ball to recover smartly.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:32Sarr drives at the Bournemouth defence, yet instead of shooting, he looks for Mateta and Huijsen gathers.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:31Ouattara ghosts in and connects with a superb ball from Zabarnyi. However, instead of heading back across, his nod is comfortably over Henderson's goal. In the next phase, Evanilson is played in by Cook on the right. Chalobah closes down the angle and the Brazilian fires across the face tamely.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:29The booked Kluivert is taken off by Iraola. The towering Philip Billing comes on to shore up the midfield.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:29Semenyo! After Cook plays the ball infield from the right, the Ghanaian international turns away from his marker, drives right and zips one back across the face. Ouattara wasn't far from poking that home!
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:25Yellow Card Dean Donny Huijsen
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:25Henderson prevents a corner as a deflected Bournemouth cross off Lacroix is collected on the right byline.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:24Eze floats in a corner from the right as Palace look to grow back into this game. However, it's cleared, before Mitchell's long ball for Eze is too long. It's a goal-kick to Kepa.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:23After previously netting four goals in six games, it's been no goals in the last six for Evanilson.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:22Evanilson is played in by Zabarnyi with a ball over the striker's right shoulder. The ball bounces and the Brazilian takes a shot, but it's straight at Kepa in the bottom-right corner. That's not a bad introduction to this game.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:19Aarons makes way for Tyler Adams. It looks like Cook may shift to right-back.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:19Substitution Enes Ünal Francisco Evanilson de Lima Barbosa
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:18Unal is bundled down by Guehi just past the halfway mark as Bournemouth look to hit on the counter. It's a yellow card, and now the England man will miss Palace's next match with Southampton.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:16Bournemouth pressure continues with a long throw from Semenyo, yet Palace get it out comfortably.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:15Lerma pushes the ball forward to Eze, yet the midfielder can't get his feet right. Up the other end, Unal latches onto an awkward ball for Guehi to deal with. Despite the Turk being flung to the floor, the referee is unmoved.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:12Palace are just happy to focus their attention on keeping the ball here. Bournemouth chase until two fine challenges from Cook get the ball back.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:10Substitution William James Hughes Cheick Oumar Doucouré
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:07Eze! After the corner on the right is cleared, Eze forces a saw from Kepa through the bodies before the ball has to be punted away from the onrushing Mateta!
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:05Mateta is slipped in by a smart reverse pass from Eze on the left and the Frenchman works quickly to fire back across. Kerkez has to block off Sarr and gives away a corner on the right.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:02The players are out for the second 45 minutes. Bournemouth get us back into the action.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
16:00Bournemouth have just about found themselves in the ascendancy here. Despite Sarr's disallowed goal for a clear offside, the hosts have worked up a 0.62 xG, while Palace's counters have only reflected a 0.27 xG. Such was their inability to score, it helped paint a bigger picture. Since their return to the Premier League in 2013-14, Crystal Palace have failed to score in the first half in 287 games, 37 more than any other side in that time.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:55The first half ends 0-0 at the Vitality as neither Bournemouth nor Crystal Palace have been able to break the deadlock in a tight and intriguing game. After some half-chances added to the game's early bookings for Kluivert and Eze, Ouattara upped the ante in the 20th minute with his flashed effort across the face of goal. Tow minutes later, Palace saw Mateta and Eze work round Cook on the left before the latter crossed for Munoz to power straight at Kepa. While the two sides began trading counters, it was admittedly Bournemouth that had the more concrete chances. In the 33rd minute, a corner from the left saw a Ouattara header blocked well before Semeyo's shot from a tight angle had to be cleared off the line by Sarr. Four minutes later, Sarr did have the ball in the back of the net, yet it was disallowed for offside.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:47HALF-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:46There will be just the sole minute of added time here.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:45Well, admittedly the pace has dropped a little here as instead of breaks, the two sides are trading bitty fouls.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:43After grabbing all over the back of Kluivert as the ball drops, Hughes is penalised. Again, like earlier, he acts bereft, but it's very clearly a foul.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:42Christie looks to fly at Palace's midfield, yet Guehi shields the ball well before being bundled over by Unal for a foul.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:39Palace counter after a Cook ping into the Eagles' box is headed out. Eze drives down the left and looks to play it back across the box for Hughes, yet the midfielder can't latch onto the pass.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:36Hughes nearly picks out Munoz on the right with a fine floated ball, yet Huijsen is back to usher out the danger. The ball stays in the Bournemouth third for a short while longer, yet the Eagles can't find that final pass and Bournemouth threaten to break before the midfield track back and lower the tempo.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:34Ouattara! Cook sends in a deep corner from the left after Kluivert is blocked off and Unal knocks the ball down for his winger. He can't get over it and his volley flies high of the target.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:32About 30 yards out, Unal shoots. It's straight at Hughes, who strikes down the Turk's optimism. Palace fans then chuck another ball on and we have to restart play from another throw. Classic.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:31Kerkez dances away from Hughes and a little nudge is enough to send the Hungarian international down for a free-kick to the hosts in a promising area.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:31Ouattara finds Semenyo after powering away through the centre, yet the Ghanaian international takes too much time on the ball and a combination of Guehi and Lacroix block his slipping effort.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:28Sarr is played through by Mateta and slides home underneath Kepa with Kerkez bearing down. However, the flag is up for offside.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:27There's been a brilliant pace to this game so far. Palace are the next to surge forward as these two sides trade blows. However, Christie can retrieve possession and clear.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:25Bournemouth are really knocking on the door! A left-sided corner sees Ouattara's header down blocked before Semenyo's effort is cleared off the line by Sarr!
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:23Munoz is found excellently by Eze from the left wing and fires straight at Kepa for an easy low save! One of these sides have to grab this game by the scruff of the neck, surely!
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:22Ouattara! The Burkinabe winger is the key man on the left yet again as Bournemouth overload Palace well. However, he can only drag his shot low across the face from just inside the box. Close!
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:20Lerma lobs in a long throw for Palace from the left, but Chalobah pushes his man to give the referee an easy decision.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:20Palace are buzzing with intent around the home side's box. However, even as Christie slips, he's able to prod it out before a foul on halfway gives the hosts some room to breathe.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:17Kerkez has another go, this time from range, and it trickles through to Henderson this time.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:16A right-sided Bournemouth corner comes over and has Kerkez shaping for a volley. He does so, and it pinballs about before Palace just get it away.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:14Ouattara and Munoz bump and battle as the Burkinabe struggles to keep his footing. Kerkez then slides in to great applause from the crowd.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:14Eze has dropped the shoulder a couple times here, winning fouls as he goes. He's such a dangerous talent on the ball. After being fouled by Christie, Eze works the ball forward and Sarr gets a shot off. However, it's tame and straight at Kepa.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:14Bournemouth win a free-kick on the left as Ouattara's cross is handballed by Munoz as he tries to block. Cook sends in the delivery, yet the Colombian redeems himself and heads away.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:10Mateta is just shaking off the Christmas cobwebs here and drags his right-footed effort low past the left post.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:08The early bookings continue as Eze is next to pick up a yellow for a cynical pull back.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:08Kirkez tosses in a long throw from the left and the ball eventually comes back across to him. However, he looks for a give-and-go with Ouattara, yet it trickles through to the Palace defence.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:06On the contrary, Crystal Palace have lost their last three Boxing Day matches, all by a 3-0 scoreline. The Eagles haven’t lost four consecutive Boxing Day games since doing so between 1950 and 1953 in the Third Division South.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:06A stat as the early sparring continues... Bournemouth haven’t lost a home game on Boxing Day since 2003 (0-2 vs Plymouth in the third tier), winning five and drawing three since. They beat Fulham 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium last season.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:05Kluivert enters the book early. First, he pulls Chalobah's shirt. Then he hoofs the ball away. Why, we hear you ask? Not a clue, but he's out of the next game against Fulham. Maybe he has somewhere to be.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:03Eze shimmies away from Zabarnyi but can't slot in Mateta in the Bournemouth box.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:02A reminder, Bournemouth could go into the top four if things go their way today. What a statement, given their journey to the Premier League in the last ten years.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:01Eze takes the kick-off and we're off under way.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
15:01After the rest of the pre-match formalities, the respective captains' meeting with the officials see the toss go Palace's way and they'll kick us off this afternoon.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:58The starting players have finished their warm-ups and we're reaching fever pitch in Dorset. Thomas Bramall is the referee overseeing this post-Christmas entertainment. He's in for his third Premier League outing of the season. Last time out in the top flight, he took charge of Newcastle's 4-0 win over Leicester. Here's hoping this game will be equally goal-laden. He leads the players out onto the Vitality Stadium pitch.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:43Oliver Glasner makes three changes to his Crystal Palace side who suffered a 5-1 defeat against Arsenal, with Eberechi Eze back in the starting line-up after missing out with a foot injury. Defender Daniel Munoz returns after serving a two-game suspension and defender Trevoh Chalobah also comes in. Chris Richards, Daichi Kamada and Nathaniel Clyne drop to the bench.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:43Turkish forward Enes Unal returns to Bournemouth's starting XI this afternoon as Andoni Iraola makes three changes from the side that beat Manchester United 3-0 on Sunday. Captain Lewis Cook is back among the starters and Max Aarons also comes in. Evanilson and Tyler Adams drop to the bench, while Adam Smith is absent.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:43SUBS: Matt Turner, Chris Richards, Nathaniel Clyne, Caleb Kporha, Cheick Oumar Doucoure, Daichi Kamada, Justin Devenny, Asher Agbinone, Jeffrey Schlupp.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:38SUBS: Matt Turner, Chris Richards, Nathaniel Clyne, Caleb Kporha, Cheick Oumar Doucoure, Daichi Kamada, Justin Devenny, Asher Agbinone, Jeffrey Schlupp.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:38CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-2-1): Dean Henderson; Trevoh Chalobah, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi; Daniel Munoz, Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma, Tyrick Mitchell; Ismaila Sarr, Eberechi Eze Jean-Philippe Mateta.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:38SUBS: Archie Harris, Mark Travers, James Hill, Maxwell Kinsey-Wellings, Ben Winterburn, Philip Billing, Tyler Adams, David Brooks, Evanilson.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:38BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Max Aarons, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez; Lewis Cook, Ryan Christie; Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert, Dango Ouattara; Enes Unal.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:33Aiming to extend their winning run in the top flight to six matches, Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth find themselves in fifth. They’re chasing a European dream, with a 3-0 win away at Old Trafford against Manchester United rightfully adding a firm gust behind their sails. While today’s hosts are looking to add to their winning streak, Crystal Palace are trying to rebuild theirs. They suffered a 5-1 defeat against Arsenal at Selhurst Park in their last Premier League match and currently sit in 16th place.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
14:33Seasons greetings! Welcome to this live text commentary as Bournemouth welcome a somewhat stuttering Crystal Palace side to the Vitality Stadium in this Boxing Day clash.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
13:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
