Albion will look to leapfrog Bournemouth into tenth spot on Sunday when the two play each other the Vitality Stadium, kick-off 2pm.
Team news
Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that Billy Gilmour is available for the first time since picking up an injury on international duty last month, but Jan Paul van Hecke will miss the trip along the south coast. The Italian said, "I’m not sure for how long or how many games, but JP can’t play at Bournemouth."
De Zerbi added that he had no update on the fitness of Tariq Lamptey or James Milner, and that Julio Enciso will be available against the Cherries but can’t play 90 minutes.
Our last meeting
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
Albion faced the Cherries at home back in September, with De Zerbi's team securing a 3-1 victory. It wasn't plain sailing for Albion, who found themselves 1-0 down after 25 minutes thanks to a Dominic Solanke strike. A Milos Kerkez own goal just before half-time was followed by a Kaoru Mitoma double in the second half to ensure Albion came away the victors.
Player to watch
Dominic Solanke is having his best season in the English top-flight to date. His previous best tally was the six goals he notched last season, which pales into insignificance compared to the 18 he has so far this season. The striker took a while to find his feet in first-team football having been a prolific striker at youth level with Chelsea and England, but his 72 goals in his last four seasons have certainly seen him establish himself with the Cherries.
How the table looks ahead of kick-off
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
ARS
|
36 | 26 | 5 | 5 | +60 | 83 |
|
2
|
MCI
|
35 | 25 | 7 | 3 | +54 | 82 |
|
3
|
LIV
|
36 | 23 | 9 | 4 | +43 | 78 |
|
4
|
AVL
|
36 | 20 | 7 | 9 | +20 | 67 |
|
5
|
TOT
|
35 | 18 | 6 | 11 | +11 | 60 |
|
6
|
NEW
|
35 | 17 | 5 | 13 | +22 | 56 |
|
7
|
CHE
|
35 | 15 | 9 | 11 | +11 | 54 |
|
8
|
MUN
|
35 | 16 | 6 | 13 | -3 | 54 |
|
9
|
WHU
|
36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | -14 | 49 |
|
10
|
BOU
|
36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | -11 | 48 |
|
11
|
Albion
|
35 | 12 | 11 | 12 | -4 | 47 |
|
12
|
WOL
|
36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | -11 | 46 |
|
13
|
EVE
|
36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | -11 | 45 |
|
14
|
FUL
|
36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | -4 | 44 |
|
15
|
CRY
|
36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | -8 | 43 |
|
16
|
BRE
|
36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | -8 | 36 |
|
17
|
NFO
|
36 | 8 | 9 | 19 | -18 | 33 |
|
18
|
LUT
|
36 | 6 | 8 | 22 | -29 | 26 |
|
19
|
BUR
|
36 | 5 | 9 | 22 | -35 | 24 |
|
20
|
SHU
|
36 | 3 | 7 | 26 | -65 | 16 |
*The above table does not include points deductions for Nottingham Forest and Everton.
Travel news
Albion supporters travelling back from Bournemouth on Sunday are reminded that the A27 eastbound is closed at Lancing with diversions signposted via the A24 to Washington, then via the Steyning bypass back to the Shoreham flyover.
Match stats
Having won four of their first six Premier League meetings with Brighton (D1 L1), Bournemouth have now lost each of their last three against the Seagulls.
Albion won this exact fixture 2-0 last season, ending a run of four straight away league defeats against Bournemouth. They last won consecutive league visits to the Cherries in February 1932.
Bournemouth have lost 67.5% of their Premier League games played on Sunday (27/40), the highest loss rate for any team to have played 10+ Sunday games in the competition’s history.
Albion have lost three of their last five Premier League games played on a Sunday (W2), more than they had in their previous 18 (W10 D6 L2).
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last five Premier League home games (W3 D2) – only once have they had a longer run without defeat at the Vitality Stadium in the top-flight, going six games between May and October 2018.
Albion have won just two of their last 15 Premier League away games (D5 L8), beating Nottingham Forest 3-2 in November and Sheffield United 5-0 in February.
Albion have failed to score in six of their 12 away games in all competitions so far in 2024, as many times as they had in 49 games on the road in 2022 and 2023 combined.
Justin Kluivert has scored in his last two Premier League home games for Bournemouth, as many times as he had in his first 12 appearances at the Vitality Stadium.
Dominic Solanke has scored nine home goals in the Premier League this season – no Bournemouth player has ever reached double figures at the Vitality Stadium in a single top-flight campaign.
No Albion player has scored more away goals in the Premier League this season than Danny Welbeck (4). Only in 2013-14 (6) has he scored more on the road in a single campaign.
Match officials
Referee: Paul Tierney
Assistants: Scott Ledger, Mat Wilkes
Fourth official: Michael Salisbury
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton