Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from Villa Park
The 2023/24 Premier League season is under way and you can follow every game and every goal right here with The Independent.
This year sees Manchester City try to defend their crown and claim a historic fourth title in succession. Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering City, who also won the Champions League and FA Cup last season, will have to see off Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and the rest to claim an unprecedented sixth league title in seven years.
Meanwhile Luton Town are making their first appearance in the Premier League, having risen from non-league in an incredible decade of progress. They followed Championship winners Burnley and second-placed Sheffield United in earning promotion to the top flight.
Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
There is just one enforced change for Bournemouth from last week's meeting with Manchester United: Luis Sinisterra has injured his hamstring and could now miss the rest of the season. The Colombian winger is replaced by Kelly, as Kerkez shifts further up the left flank. Semenyo is available again and takes a place on the bench, but Marcus Tavernier still joins Ryan Fredericks and Tyler Adams on the sidelines.
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
Emery makes two changes to the Aston Villa side that started in Lille, as Nicolo Zaniolo misses out after sustaining an injury and Douglas Luiz is suspended; Rogers and Bailey return. Cash starts his first Premier League match since a month-long layoff, but long-term absentees Boubacar Kamara, Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings and Jacob Ramsey have been joined by Alex Moreno in a busy treatment room.
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
SUBS: Mark Travers, Alex Scott, James Hill, Antoine Semenyo, Enes Unal, Philip Billing, Max Aarons, Callan McKenna, Michael Dacosta Gonzalez.
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Neto; Adam Smith, Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, Lloyd Kelly; Lewis Cook, Ryan Christie; Dango Ouattara, Justin Kluivert, Milos Kerkez; Dominic Solanke.
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
SUBS: Robin Olsen, Diego Carlos, Calum Chambers, Clement Lenglet, Jhon Duran, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Tim Iroegbunam, Finley Munroe, Omari Kellyman.
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Emi Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Leon Bailey, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, Morgan Rogers; Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
Watkins struck a late equaliser in December's reverse fixture, which finished in a 2-2 draw, but Bournemouth have still won four of their seven Premier League games against Aston Villa to date. Since mid-November, only England's top four have fared better than the mid-table Cherries, who have racked up 10 wins en route to tallying 36 points over that period. Andoni Iraola's side came close to doing the double over Manchester United last week, though they ultimately had to settle for a 2-2 home draw despite leading twice.
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
Having edged through to the Europa Conference League semi-finals with a dramatic penalty-shootout win over Lille - eventually prevailing 4-3 on spot-kicks - Aston Villa now return to their pursuit of a place in the Premier League's final top four. That aim was aided by last week's defeat of title-chasing Arsenal, in which top scorer Ollie Watkins found the target once again. Though Unai Emery's men lead Tottenham in the race for Champions League qualification, they only escaped with a point from their last encounter with Bournemouth and can take nothing for granted today.
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Bournemouth at Villa Park!
Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth
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