High-flying Bournemouth will go in search of a fifth win in six matches when Crystal Palace come visiting the Vitality Stadium for Thursday’s Boxing Day encounter.
The Cherries claimed yet another feather in the cap against a top-six side on Sunday as they hit Manchester United for three to record a second straight 3-0 victory at Old Trafford courtesy of goals from Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo.
An impressive run of 13 points from the last five matches either side of a 1-1 draw against West Ham United has propelled Bournemouth into fifth place in the Premier League, just three points shy of Nottingham Forest in fourth.
While any talks of securing European qualification remain premature as stated by head coach Andoni Iraola, his men have certainly put the league on alert ahead of their clash against Palace.
“I want to repeat what I tell you every day—I don’t believe in the long-term goals when we are not halfway through the season,” Iraola said in his pre-match press conference.
Bournemouth are set to be without the services of Marcos Senesi and Marcus Tavernier, who are currently nursing thigh injuries, although the former is relatively closer to a return to action.
Julian Araujo and Alex Scott will also miss out here due to knee injuries, while Luis Sinisterra is yet to fully recuperate from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the best part of two months.
Predicted Bournemouth XI vs. Crystal Palace
Kepa Arrizabalaga made seven saves en route to a third clean sheet of the campaign last time out, and the Chelsea loanee is set to feature in goal once again.
With no fresh injury or suspension concerns to report, the same back four of Milos Kerkez, Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Adam Smith is expected here.
Lewis Cook was a surprise omission from the XI against Man United and could return to the lineup in place of Tyler Adams to partner Ryan Christie in midfield.
Due to Tavernier’s absence, Dango Ouattara is in line to make a third straight start on the left wing with Semenyo on the opposite flank and Kluivert playing in the number 10 role just behind Evanilson.
Predicted Bournemouth XI vs. Crystal Palace:
Kepa, Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Smith, Christie, Cook, Ouattara, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson
