Bournemouth vs Newcastle United Preview, Team News, Form Guide and Key Players to Watch

AFC Bournemouth welcome Newcastle United to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, September 21, 2025, for a Premier League Round 5 clash that could shape the trajectory of both clubs’ seasons.

The match kicks off at 16:00 local time and will be overseen by referee Robert Jones.

Bournemouth’s strong start has propelled them into the top five of the table, while Newcastle are seeking to respond to a tough week that saw them fall to Barcelona in the Champions League.

The Cherries have been one of the surprise packages of the season so far, collecting nine points from four matches and scoring six goals. Andoni Iraola’s side have combined defensive resilience with quick attacking transitions, making them one of the most balanced outfits in the league. Victory here would not only cement their place in the top five but also further enhance their growing reputation as dark horses for European qualification.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are under pressure to rediscover their spark after a mixed start to the campaign. With only five points from their opening four matches, Eddie Howe’s men sit 13th in the table, four points behind Bournemouth. A win would propel them into the top half and restore confidence following their midweek 2-1 loss to Barcelona, a game in which they competed well but were undone by moments of brilliance from the Spanish champions.

Bournemouth are expected to field a strong lineup as Iraola looks to keep their early momentum going. Petrovic will start in goal behind a back four of James Hill, Milos Milosavljevic, Marcos Senesi, and Adrien Truffert. In midfield, Tyler Adams and Scott will look to control the tempo, while Marcus Tavernier and David Brooks will support Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson in attack.

Antoine Semenyo’s form has been one of the highlights of Bournemouth’s season, with the Ghanaian forward scoring three goals in four appearances and adding two assists. His pace and directness have caused problems for every defense he has faced, and his previous record against Newcastle suggests he could be decisive once again. Marcos Senesi, who has been a defensive rock so far, will be tasked with dealing with Newcastle’s aerial threat.

For Newcastle, Eddie Howe is expected to make minimal changes despite the midweek defeat. Nick Pope should return in goal, with Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, and Lewis Hall forming the back line. The midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton offers power and technical ability, while Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes will provide width in support of striker Nick Woltemade. Howe’s main selection dilemma may be whether to introduce Callum Wilson or Alexander Isak to inject more goal threat, given Newcastle’s modest return of three league goals so far.

Goalkeeper: Petrovic

Defence: James Hill, Milos Milosavljevic, Marcos Senesi, Adrien Truffert

Midfield: Tyler Adams, Alex Scott Attack: Antoine Semenyo, Marcus Tavernier, David Brooks

Striker: Evanilson Absent: None significant

Goalkeeper: Nick Pope

Defence: Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall

Midfield: Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton

Forward: Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade, Harvey Barnes

Absent: Sven Botman (injured), Joe Willock (injured)

The recent head-to-head record between these sides has been surprisingly one-sided, with Bournemouth enjoying the upper hand. Their most recent meeting produced a stunning 4-1 win for the Cherries at St James’ Park in January 2025, a match that featured a hat-trick from Justin Kluivert and a commanding display from Milos Kerkez.

Bournemouth have also been difficult to beat at home against Newcastle, with their last Vitality Stadium meeting ending in a 1-1 draw in August 2024. Marcus Tavernier struck for the hosts in that game before Anthony Gordon salvaged a point for the Magpies. The February 2024 meeting at St James’ Park ended in a 2-2 draw, again highlighting how competitive these games have been.

Newcastle’s last league victory over Bournemouth came in November 2022, making this fixture something of a hurdle for Eddie Howe’s men. That historical context adds extra intrigue, as Newcastle will be desperate to reverse the trend and avoid losing further ground in the league table.

Bournemouth have been one of the most consistent teams in the early part of the campaign, with three wins from their last four league matches. Their most recent outing was a 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, where Semenyo’s creative play and Evanilson’s movement were key.

Prior to that, the Cherries claimed a superb 1-0 away win at Tottenham Hotspur, a result that underlined their credentials as a side capable of upsetting the league’s established teams. They also earned a narrow 1-0 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, which kick-started their run of good results following their opening-day defeat.

Their only domestic disappointment came in the EFL Cup, where a rotated side fell 2-0 to Brentford. However, their league form has been excellent, and their goal-scoring output of six goals in four matches shows they are capable of hurting opponents in different ways.

Newcastle’s form has been less convincing, with just one win from their last four league matches and a tough defeat in Europe midweek. Their last Premier League outing ended in a 1-0 win against Wolves, a much-needed result that gave them some momentum ahead of this trip.

Before that, they were held to a goalless draw by Leeds United, a game that highlighted their struggles in front of goal. Their 3-2 loss to Liverpool earlier in the season was a thrilling contest but exposed some defensive vulnerabilities, while their opening-day draw at Aston Villa was a cagey affair with few chances.

Their 2-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona showed they can compete with Europe’s best but also left them physically and mentally tested heading into this clash. Howe will need to rotate carefully to keep his side fresh and ready for what promises to be another high-intensity battle.

This match promises to be an exciting tactical battle, with Bournemouth likely to stick to their high-pressing approach and Newcastle focusing on solid defensive shape and quick transitions. The Cherries will aim to dominate possession and create overloads through their midfield pivot of Adams and Scott, while Semenyo and Tavernier will look to exploit Newcastle’s full-backs.

For Newcastle, the key will be whether Guimaraes and Tonali can wrest control of midfield and provide service to Woltemade or Wilson. Eddie Howe’s men have the quality to hurt Bournemouth in transition, but they will need to take their chances — something they have struggled with so far.

Both teams will likely have spells of dominance, and this could come down to which side is more clinical in front of goal. Bournemouth’s home form makes them slight favourites, but Newcastle’s resilience and quality mean they should not be underestimated.

Bournemouth enter this game full of confidence and playing some of the best football in the league right now. Iraola’s side have been efficient, compact, and dangerous in attack — a combination that makes them a serious threat to any opponent.

Newcastle, meanwhile, will view this as a chance to kick-start their league campaign after a testing run of fixtures. If they can keep Semenyo quiet and restrict space between the lines, they have a good chance of taking something from the Vitality Stadium.