Brighton v Bournemouth: Team newspublished at 19:04 GMT 19 January
19:04 GMT 19 January
Fabian Hurzeler makes four changes to the Brighton side that beat Manchester United in the FA Cup last weekend, with Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke and Mitoma returning to the starting XI.
The visitors, meanwhile, hand forward Amine Adli only a fourth start of the league campaign as they begin life without Antoine Semenyo in the Premier League.
Bournemouth closing in on Lazio goalkeeper Mandaspublished at 17:58 GMT 19 January
17:58 GMT 19 January
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth are in advanced talks to sign Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas on a loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy.
The value of the clause is expected to be under £21m, and understood to be difficult to trigger, with a high number of appearances and an unlikely European finish among the conditions being discussed.
Mandas has played 33 times for the Italian top flight club and is a two-time Greece international.
The Cherries negotiated a similar structure when they signed Alex Jimenez from AC Milan in the summer, and he now looks set to meet the targets required for a permanent move.
Dorde Petrovic is Bournemouth's first-choice keeper, while Fraser Forster recently joined as back-up.
Brighton v Bournemouth: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 08:31 GMT 19 January
08:31 GMT 19 January
Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport journalist
Brighton are bidding to continue a good run of home form this season against a Bournemouth side aiming for back-to-back league wins for the first time since August.
BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into Monday's meeting at Amex Stadium.
The Seagulls have generally been strong at home this season, with their solitary defeat coming in a chaotic seven-goal contest against Aston Villa in December - and while Fabian Hurzeler's side have since been held by West Ham United and Sunderland, they got back to winning ways against Burnley in their most recent Amex outing.
Part of Brighton's consistent home record so far has been down to an ability to bounce back when going behind, including the 1-1 draw with West Ham on 7 December, during which Georginio Rutter scored a 91st-minute equaliser, along with home wins over Manchester City and Chelsea earlier this season.
Brighton have conceded the opening goal on 12 occasions in 2025-26 and gone on to avoid defeat in seven matches (W3, D4) – the most of any Premier League side.
Affairs were slightly more straightforward when Brighton switched competitions last weekend, triumphing at Old Trafford in the FA Cup courtesy of a virtuoso performance by Danny Welbeck.
The 42-cap England international has been used sparingly in his 16th campaign of top-flight football, although he has still managed to score eight goals – tying his career-best tally after 21 league matches, despite starting just 12.
Welbeck is only two goals away from equalling the best total league tally of his career with 17 games remaining, and if the former Arsenal and Manchester United forward can stay fit and in form, he may yet make a compelling case to be on England's plane to the World Cup later this summer.
Bournemouth searching for away win
Bournemouth rediscovered winning ways of their own last time out in the Premier League, ending an unwanted club record of 11 top-flight fixtures without a victory by beating Tottenham at Vitality Stadium.
Junior Kroupi was again a key performer, scoring his seventh goal of the season in the 3-2 triumph. The 19-year-old has impressed in his first campaign of Premier League football, with only four non-British teenagers - Romelu Lukaku, Nclas Anelka, Robbie Keane and Kelechi Iheanacho - having scored more in a season in the competition.
The Cherries did not enjoy the FA Cup weekend as much as Monday's opponents, again failing to find a way to win away from home and being eliminated on penalties following a 3-3 draw at Newcastle United.
Bournemouth have not won on the road in any competition since a 1-0 victory at Tottenham on 30 August - a run of nine matches, with only Leeds, Burnley and Wolves picking up fewer Premier League points than Bournemouth's seven away from home.
Andoni Iraola's side have also lost on their past four visits to the Amex, although they may take confidence from beating Brighton at home earlier this season as they target just a second Premier League double in this fixture and first since 2019.
Gossip: Cherries keen on winger Garciapublished at 06:52 GMT 19 January
06:52 GMT 19 January
Bournemouth and West Ham are interested in Real Betis' Spanish winger Pablo Garcia, 19, and are prepared to pay his £26m buyout clause. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Bournemouthpublished at 14:37 GMT 18 January
14:37 GMT 18 January
Antoine Semenyo is a huge miss for Bournemouth now he has joined Manchester City, but they are still an attack-minded team and I always fancy them to score.
Brighton are the same, in that they look dangerous when they come forward but can also appear very open.
So this should be a very entertaining game and we should see a few goals too. I just can't pick a winner.
Gossip: Senesi targeted by Chelseapublished at 08:05 GMT 16 January
08:05 GMT 16 January
Chelsea want to bring in a defender this window with Bournemouth's Argentina international Marcos Senesi, 28, among several targets. (Talksport), external
'Been a long time coming' - Solanke joins on long-term dealpublished at 16:48 GMT 15 January
16:48 GMT 15 January
Image source, Getty Images
Left-back Ade Solanke says he is "over the moon" to have signed for Bournemouth on a long-term deal from Ligue 1 side FC Lorient.
The 18-year-old signed the contract on his birthday this month and will go straight into the Cherries' academy set-up.
Solanke has featured for Lorient's under-19s and reserve sides and has represented the Republic of Ireland 31 times from under-15 to under-18 level, most recently appearing at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
"I am over the moon. I feel it's been a long time coming but I'm delighted to be here, and I can't wait to get started," the former Shamrock Rovers youth player said.
"With AFC Bournemouth being a Premier League club, a move like this is something I've dreamt of. I am grateful and I thank God, I am really happy.
"The vision of where everyone wants this club to go and where the club is going, it played a big part in my decision to come to AFC Bournemouth."
Solanke follows in the steps of a number of players to have come from Bournemouth's partner club Lorient, including summer signing Eli Junior Kroupi, who has scored seven goals since his debut in August.
Sam Gisborne, head of academy at Bournemouth, added: "We're really pleased to welcome Ade Solanke to the academy.
"He's someone we've been monitoring for a period of time, and we believe this is a great environment for him to continue his development."
Iraola on Brooks' issue, replacing Semenyo and busy transfer windowpublished at 14:48 GMT 15 January
14:48 GMT 15 January
Josh Lobley BBC Sport journalist
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Brighton at Amex Stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his chat with BBC Radio Solent:
Iraola says his squad will "continue be thin" for Monday's match, adding: "David Brooks has some issues with his ankle, I don't know if he will be available. Ryan Christie is on the positive side, we could recover him."
He added that Enes Unal's injury is not major, and hopes he will only be out for two or three weeks.
On how he can replace the output of Antoine Semenyo: "We need players in his position and the club is working on it. We also need players already here to step up. It is not going to be just one; it will be a collective."
Iraola was reluctant to say much about the club's links to Hungarian midfielder Alex Toth, but said on the window in general: "We are open to a lot of situations in January. You are not going to find the perfect player but you have to be open-minded."
When asked how many players could arrive at Vitality Stadium this month: "We could sign two, three, four. In our heads, three is probably the number we have because we need to replace three positions."
On why Brighton are "so difficult to prepare for", Iraola said: "They have so many different routes to goal. They like to change their starting 11. In the last 30 minutes of games they have a plus-10 goal difference which is massive. It says a lot about the subs, who keep or even increase their level."
He was asked if he enjoys the Monday night slot of Premier League football: "I love to play late at night because I think proper football is played at night. But I get more nervous when we are not playing [over the weekend] when you are looking at the other results."
Faivre returns from loan to join French side Auxerre published at 14:48 GMT 15 January
14:48 GMT 15 January
Image source, Getty Images
AFC Bournemouth midfielder Romain Faivre has returned from a loan spell in Saudi Arabia to join French side Auxerre on loan until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old was previously on loan with Al Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League, making five league appearances and scoring one goal.
Faivre joined Bournemouth in July 2023 for a fee of £12.8m, before immediately moving on loan to FC Lorient.
However, in January 2024 he joined back up with the Cherries squad after his loan spell was cut short.
He spent last season on loan with Stade Brest where he made 32 appearances across all competitions, but has made just six appearances for Bournemouth since joining,
How Bournemouth's shootout loss 'completed a circle of sorts'published at 08:24 GMT 15 January
08:24 GMT 15 January
Mark Mitchener BBC Sport Senior Journalist
Image source, PA Media
Bournemouth's exit from the FA Cup on penalties at Newcastle United completed a circle of sorts, as the two sides had contested the first televised FA Cup penalty shootout in January 1992.
Before the 1991-92 season, drawn FA Cup ties were replayed, again and again, until a winner was found. The record was set by non-league duo Alvechurch and Oxford City in 1971-72, when five replays were needed to settle their fourth qualifying round tie.
Second replays onward were often played at neutral venues, in front of much-reduced crowds. For Bournemouth's part, they played Torquay at Bristol City's Ashton Gate (1932), Ipswich at Arsenal's Highbury (1952), Watford at Swindon's County Ground (1967), Blackpool at Aston Villa's Villa Park (1972), Gillingham at Brentford's Griffin Park (1974) and Colchester at Watford's Vicarage Road (1977) in cup competitions.
Fast forward to 1991-92 when penalties were imposed after one replay. Having beaten Bromsgrove Rovers and Brentford in the first two rounds, Bournemouth were handed a third successive home tie against Newcastle. A goalless draw at Dean Court was followed by a replay at St James' Park which was abandoned after 17 minutes because of (literally) fog on the Tyne.
So eight days later, the sides tried again and as it was the only Cup tie on that night, it was naturally chosen for live broadcast by Sky Sports, with extended highlights on BBC One's Sportsnight.
1992's viewers were treated to an entertaining 2-2 draw and, as in 2025-26, one of Newcastle's first five penalties in 1992 was blazed too high, while another was saved by the Cherries goalkeeper diving to his right.
However, Bournemouth's 2026 penalty takers were not able to match the success from 12 yards enjoyed by their counterparts from 1992 (who scored four spot-kicks out of four to complete a 4-3 win) and the Magpies booked their place in the next round.
It ends a run of five successful penalty competitions for the Cherries, whose previous loss in a shootout was to Portsmouth in the Football League Trophy in 2012.
Since then, they had overcome Preston (2015), Forest Green (2019), Crystal Palace (2020) and Norwich (2022) in the League Cup, as well as Wolves in last season's FA Cup fifth round.
Gossip: Cherries keen on Toth from Ferencvarospublished at 06:56 GMT 14 January
06:56 GMT 14 January
Bournemouth are continuing talks with Ferencvaros over a deal for Hungary midfielder Alex Toth, 20, after their initial £8.6m offer was rejected. (Sky Sports), external
Gusto should have conceded penalty for handball, panel sayspublished at 16:13 GMT 13 January
16:13 GMT 13 January
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth should have been awarded a penalty at Chelsea for handball by Malo Gusto, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has said.
Marcus Tavernier played a ball into the penalty area in the 54th minute. It hit the raised arm of Gusto as it dropped over his head but referee Sam Barrott waved away the penalty claims.
The KMI Panel voted 4-1 that Barrott should have given the spot-kick and 3-2 that the video assistant referee (VAR), Craig Pawson, was wrong not to intervene.
The panel felt that "the ball hit the 'red zone' of his arm that was raised in an unjustifiable position".
The 'red zone' relates to a part of the arm which is considered a handball offence.
Yet Chelsea were denied a penalty against Aston Villa in similar circumstances just three days earlier. The KMI Panel unanimously voted it was correct not to give a spot-kick against Ian Maatsen. It happened in the 75th minute with the score 1-1, with Chelsea falling to a late Chelsea falling to a late 2-1 defeat.
It is the second time this season that Gusto has incorrectly escaped a VAR penalty. He caught the head of Brighton's Yankuba Minteh with his boot on 27 September.
Chelsea have benefited most from VAR errors this season, with three of the 13 which have been logged. The third is Fulham's wrongly disallowed goal at 0-0 in a game Chelsea went on to win 2-0.
Bournemouth have suffered two mistakes. The second was a missed red card for West Ham's Max Kilman in the 66th minute of the 2-2 draw on 22 November.
But Bournemouth have also gained, as Marcos Senesi should twice have received red cards for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity against Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
How do Bournemouth ensure this season is seen as positive?published at 11:35 GMT 13 January
11:35 GMT 13 January
Tom Jordan Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Following defeat in the FA Cup at the first round of asking, the Cherries have to park any dream of cup glory, having also failed at the first hurdle in this season's Carabao Cup.
This will therefore be one of the club's fewest games in a full season, which is probably not too concerning considering Andoni Iraola's side's current lack of squad availability.
It remains to be seen how active the club will be in this month's transfer window but following key departures and a significant number of injuries, the squad is looking thin and in need of some fresh bodies.
So how do Bournemouth ensure this season is still seen in a positive light and that they're continuing to show clear progression?
Last campaign's ninth-placed finish and record points tally of 56 feels tough to beat but definitely feasible.
Iraola's men sit on a respectable 26 points, meaning a slightly improved second half of the season could well put the Cherries on track to still show a clear upward trajectory on the pitch.
This season was always going to be a demanding one. On Saturday, the side performed admirably at Newcastle in a game that was almost a year to the day of that special 4-1 Premier League win at St James' Park.
Cherries had only three players that played both this weekend and in January 2025, one of them being an academy player - so the squad turnover has been high, perhaps underlining that adaptation and patience has always been required by supporters as Bournemouth aim to stay consistent amid high churn.
So what is possible? A top half and pushing towards last season's points tally? It may be a tall order, but it's one which Bournemouth are more than capable of delivering on.
Gossip: Bournemouth serious about Hungary Tothpublished at 07:45 GMT 13 January
07:45 GMT 13 January
Bournemouth have emerged as a serious contender alongside Lazio in the pursuit of Ferencvaros and Hungary midfielder Alex Toth, 20. (Teamtalk), external
'Penalties is a lottery' - Tavernierpublished at 11:45 GMT 12 January
11:45 GMT 12 January
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth midfielder Marcus Tavernier says they "showed great courage" against Newcastle in Saturday's FA Cup third round shootout defeat.
Substitute Tavernier got in between Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw to poke home in stoppage time and level at 3-3, taking the game to penalties, only for Newcastle to win the shootout and a place in the fourth round.
"When it goes to penalties it is a lottery for the next round," Tavernier told BBC Radio Solent. "We couldn't find the luck to make it happen, but I thought we performed well.
"We made another good account of ourselves to move forward in the coming weeks.
"The games with Newcastle are always energetic, we are two teams that like running and press high.
"I think we handled them very well and showed great courage in going forward and defending.
"Even though we were 3-2 down, I knew I hadn't had a chance yet so I was asking for the lads to give me the ball. I felt like I could get one and we kept battling until the end because we know anything can happen.
"After 120 minutes, there is a lot of tired legs out there but I felt fresh and knew that if I kept working hard then a chance would come."
Newcastle 3-3 Bournemouth (7-6 on pens) - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:35 GMT 12 January
08:35 GMT 12 January
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup game between Newcastle and Bournemouth.
Here are some of your comments:
Newcastle fans
Richard: That penalty shootout became a must win for Newcastle. Had we lost after conceding that ridiculous late goal I think it would have been a real confidence killer for us. That said, the simple fact is we just don't seem to have any consistency at all this season. With the smallest of margins we have won our last two matches. It could have easily been a very different set of results. Any chance we could just have a nice undramatic 2-0 win sometimes, please?
Barry: I was there! Lots of positives for both sides. Great determination from us to take the lead, but we must learn to manage the game from that point. Bournemouth players were exhausted! Gordon, Tonali, Hall, Botman, Miley, Barnes and Ramsey were inspirational.
Phil: Could've been the second 4-3 in the space of a week! Last thing Newcastle needed was 120 minutes of draining football but at least they won and are in the hat for the next round.
Geoff: Brilliant performance. Exciting all the way through. Watching the penalties my nerves are shot. This new Newcastle never gives up. Fantastic to see.
Bournemouth fans
Neil: So proud of the boys, Wednesday was a rollercoaster and so emotional with the fairy tale ending scripted in the stars. No shame being knocked out on pens. Fabulous effort and matched Eddie's boys toe to toe. If we recruit well with the proceeds of Semenyo's sale we will be fine.
Andrew: Considering the squad we had available, that was a pretty reasonable performance. Had enough chances to win it too.
Pete: Great performance guys, never gave up, a credit to all concerned. Worth the trip. Considering all the changes you all put on a fabulous display, well done! Keep the faith, us supporters will.
Unal 'out for some time' with muscle injury - Iraolapublished at 11:22 GMT 11 January
11:22 GMT 11 January
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola says Enes Unal will be out for at least a few weeks after going off injured in Saturday's FA Cup defeat to Newcastle.
The forward, who recently returned from an ACL injury, started at St James' Park for the first time in over a year.
However, his return was short lasting and he was forced off in visible pain with a muscle injury after just 29 minutes played.
"He felt the right abductor," said Iraola to BBC Radio Solent. "It is a shame because it has nearly been one year without playing and he was in the process of re-gaining his form and now he is going to be out.
"I think it is a muscle injury. Abductor is not the worst compared to a hamstring or quad, but three weeks is always the minimum. He needs to be assessed but I think he will be out for some time."
Unal's latest setback adds to Bournemouth's injury woes this season but Iraola is hopeful Ryan Christie could return for their next game at Brighton on Monday, 19 January.
Bournemouth analysis: Hope even without Semenyopublished at 19:26 GMT 10 January
19:26 GMT 10 January
Ciaran Kelly Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
This was the first glimpse of life without Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth after the club's top scorer completed his £65m move to Manchester City on Friday.
Semenyo was undoubtedly Bournemouth's talisman, but this side showed they had plenty of firepower and spirit at St James' - even without him.
There were a series of moments where injury-hit Bournemouth, who have not won away since August, could have crumbled.
Not least after Newcastle scored to make it 1-0, levelled to make it 2-2 and went ahead again to make it 3-2.
But each time Bournemouth came roaring back.
That will give Andoni Iraola comfort even in defeat.
But Bournemouth could still do with some reinforcements this month after striker Enes Unal hobbled off on a rare start to join Justin Kluivert, Ben Gannon-Doak, Tyler Adams and Ryan Christie on the sidelines.
Newcastle 3-3 Bournemouth (7-6 on pens): What Iraola saidpublished at 19:21 GMT 10 January
19:21 GMT 10 January
Image source, Getty Images
AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Radio Solent after the penalty shootout defeat to Newcastle: "This is the FA Cup. I'm very proud of being part of this game because, it is true we are out of the competition, but I don't think we can ask much more of the players. I think we gave everything.
"Even in the shootout, we were for a moment in front, but it was not meant to be.
"The team that finished the game, we probably didn't have a lot of [penalty] specialists. After the first two or three penalties, it was a matter of choosing between players that have probably never taken a penalty, or very few times. You never know how they will react."
Did you know?
Bournemouth's David Brooks has been directly involved in three goals in his last four games in all competitions (two goals, one assist), more goals and assists than in his previous 36 matches combined (one).
Newcastle v Bournemouth: Team newspublished at 14:13 GMT 10 January
14:13 GMT 10 January
Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa start together for the first time as Newcastle United ring the changes for the visit of Bournemouth in the FA Cup.
Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento, Sven Botman, Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock also come into the side as head coach Eddie Howe makes seven changes.
