Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from St. Mary's Stadium
Follow live coverage as Southampton face AFC Bournemouth today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth
SEMENYO! The winger weaves and glides inside the Southampton box from the left before firing on goal. It's a brilliant save from Ramsdale that denies him as he tips over the bar! From the corner, Ramsdale then somehow keeps a Christie header off the line in superb fashion!
Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth
Zabarnyi bites on Onuachu's baiting, turned touch as he enters the box. However, the Ukrainian reacts brilliantly to block the giant forward's shot the right and send it out for a corner. The delivery gets stuck amid the legs in the area before the Cherries get it half clear. Aribo then drives into the box down the left, yet Christie covers smartly before being fouled by the industrious Nigerian international.
Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth
Smallbone challenges Adams on the near touchline. It's yet another bitty foul in this game's deep catalogue. Bournemouth keep the ball well now, as another theme of this fixture continues before Kluivert is penalised for tackling through Ugochukwu.
Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth
Sulemana wins a free-kick on the right from Kerkez. Smallbone delivers and Onuachu rises to glance tamely wide of the left post. They need to get that beacon up front more involved. Promising.
Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth
Southampton boss Juric is down on one knee here. Whatever helps to see the game better...
Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth
Welington makes way for Yukinari Sugawara at the interval as Southampton opt for a double change.
Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth
Substitution Nathan Dean Joshua Wood-Gordon Lesley Chimuanya Ugochukwu
Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth
Although proving to be quite gritty in the midfield battle, Southampton have been relatively flat elsewhere. Their creative sparks of Fernandes, Walker-Peters, and Sulemana have either been easily snuffed out or have hardly got going. They have a meagre 0.05 xG from that first half and, admittedly, need to find a more direct approach to break through Bournemouth's disciplined backline. The Cherries have had a lot of joy in transition and have also shown that they have just more than one route to goal. Their defence and low-lying midfield compact up the pitch nicely to keep their hosts tied down - resorting to long balls for Zabarnyi and Huijsen to beat Onuachu to. In a way, they've taken their foot off the gas at times following their quick one-two, yet while coolly exceeding their 0.71 xG, who can blame them?
Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth
A quick two-punch knockout sees Bournemouth leading Southampton 2-0 at St. Mary's at the break. The visitors have shown just why and how exactly they're looking to compete in Europe for the first time in their club's history, with a devastating two minutes giving them a well-earned lead. The first goal arrived in the 14th minute, as Ouattara continued his role up front. Southampton were hemmed in before a decisive Christie cross on the left proved key. Ouattara's run met the delivery perfectly, and he glanced coolly into the bottom-right corner. Just two minutes later, the provider turned scorer, as Christie pinged one into the bottom left from the edge of the area with Ramsdale at full stretch. The Saints afforded their exciting visitors with too much space, and all it took was a simple pass from Kluivert to find Christie to power home smartly. Following a cagey period in the middle of the park, the end of the period could've seen more goals, as both Ouattara and Onuachu went close. However, with Southampton firmly the weaker of the two sides, their lack of cutting edge and defensive rigidity has been their downfall so far.
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