Bournemouth look to extend their unbeaten run to six league games as they take on a Fulham side yet to win away this season. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Friday’s match.
Eli Junior Kroupi’s injury-time equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Bournemouth at Leeds last weekend, meaning the Cherries have taken 11 points from their opening six fixtures, their best start to a top-flight campaign.
The performances of Antoine Semenyo, who netted the opening goal at Elland Road, have been key to their excellent early form. While the club cashed in on defenders Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez this summer, they are reaping the benefits of tying down the Ghana international to a new five-year contract.
Semenyo already has four goals this term, maintaining momentum from a strong finish to the 2024-25 campaign. He has been directly involved in 11 Premier League goals since the start of April, scoring eight and assisting three. The only player with a better combined tally in that time is West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen.
Since joining the Cherries, the 25-year-old has consistently impressed with his direct style of play, work-rate and ability to use both feet, though he has not always been a ruthless finisher, registering a shot conversion rate of 9.2% in the Premier League between his debut in February 2023 and March 2025.
But that figure has risen to 21.1% over the past six months as he has become more selective with his efforts on goal. He has taken slightly fewer shots per 90 minutes but those attempts have, on average, carried a higher expected goals value.
Surrendering leads a costly habit for ‘soft’ Fulham
Fulham boss Marco Silva again turned his ire on the match officials after last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa, saying he found it “impossible” to understand why his side were denied two first-half penalties.
He drew comparisons with several disputed decisions that went against his team in August’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, asking why Ryan Sessegnon was penalised for handball at Stamford Bridge but Matty Cash escaped punishment for a similar act on Sunday.
Silva will, however, also have been frustrated to see the Whites again failed to capitalise on a strong start, with Raul Jimenez having put the visitors in front after just three minutes. That has been a recurring issue for the Londoners, who have lost four of their past seven league matches when scoring first.
In fact, Fulham have lost 31 points from winning positions since the start of last season, the second-highest figure in the top flight across that period.
Silva candidly admitted his side were “too soft” when it came to protecting their lead at Villa Park. More backbone will be required at Vitality Stadium, where Fulham have lost their past three games.
