
Joshua Zirkzee takes pop at Man Utd fans after historic European win
UEFA Europa League
Bournemouth are hoping to close the gap on the Premier League's top seven when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
Andoni Iraola's side seemingly peaked in January, and had endured a lengthy winless run in the top flight before Fulham visited the Vitality on Monday night. The Cherries desperately needed three points to keep their European hopes alive, and victory was secured by virtue of Antoine Semenyo's first-minute winner.
They're now six points behind Aston Villa in seventh ahead of the weekend's action. Saturday's visitors must go on another run down the stretch to give them the best possible chance of playing in Europe next season.
Palace had been one of the league's form teams before they rocked up to Manchester City on Saturday. After taking a 2-0 lead at the Etihad, Oliver Glasner's side have conceded ten unanswered goals and now have no shot of staging a potential surge for Europe during the final few games of the season.
Palace were thumped 5-0 at Newcastle in midweek and enter this bout 12th in the Premier League table.
Here is 90min's guide to the game.
Crystal Palace
Bournemouth
Newcastle 5-0 Crystal Palace - 16/04/25
Bournemouth 1-0 Fulham - 14/04/25
Man City 5-2 Crystal Palace - 12/04/25
West Ham 2-2 Bournemouth - 05/04/25
Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton - 05/04/25
Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich - 02/04/25
Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace - 02/04/25
Bournemouth 1-2 Man City - 30/03/25
Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace - 29/03/25
Bournemouth 1-2 Brentford - 15/03/25
Country
TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom
Not televised - live radio commentary and updates on BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT
United States
Peacock, SiriusXM FC
Canada
fuboTV Canada
It's been a chastening few days for the Eagles, who have conceded ten times in their previous two outings. Not even the return of Marc Guehi from a short suspension could help the Eagles stifle Newcastle on Wednesday night.
Despite their recent results, there are unlikely to be wholesale changes from Glasner for Bournemouth's visit. The manager still can't call upon Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure, so the back three should remain the same from Wednesday night.
Adam Wharton is poised for a midfield recall, while January signing Romain Esse could earn a start in attack.
Palace predicted lineup vs Bournemouth (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Lerma, Wharton, Mitchell; Eze, Esse; Mateta.
Iraola could name an unchanged team from Monday night's important victory over Fulham, although there's hope Justin Kluivert will recover from a knock in time to feature.
If Kluivert isn't fit, the Spaniard will decide between Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier to start behind Evanilson.
Ryan Christie is out for the rest of the season due to a groin injury, while Enes Unal and Luis Sinisterra are also absent. Illya Zabarnyi could replace Marcos Senesi at centre-back.
Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Palace (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Cook; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson.
Bournemouth's win on Monday night was mightily important, as a gap had just started to open up between the top seven and the chasing pack. The Cherries remain in the hunt, but they need to win again at the weekend to maintain the pressure on Villa and company.
Palace have been rocked by a pair of convincing defeats, and it'll be tough for them to pick themselves up so soon against a Cherries outfit that thrive in moments of choas. The visitors must surely sense vulnerability within the Eagles' ranks and take advantage of their recent dip.
Bournemouth need this one much more than their hosts.
Published on: April 18, 2025
Premier League
Premier League
Premier League
Premier League