Bournemouth continued their incredible charge toward the Champions League with another victory on Saturday, winning 3-1 away to Southampton to leapfrog Newcastle and Chelsea for 5th place in the Premier League table.
WATCH – Southampton v Bournemouth full match replay
It was 2-0 to the Cherries after just 16 minutes, as Ryan Christie curled an inch-perfect cross that found Dango Ouattara in the 14th minute before turning scorer himself with a bouncing effort from outside the box two minutes later. Saints did put up a fight and clawed their way back to 2-1 through Kamaldeen Sulemana struck in the 72nd minute, but Marcus Tavernier restored the two-goal lead in the 83rd and that was that.
Following Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Friday and Newcastle’s 4-0 shellacking at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday, Bournemouth (43 points) are moving up two places into 5th, which is presumed to carry with it a Champions League place for next season. Southampton (9 points) remain bottom of the table, eight points behind 19th-place Leicester and 10 adrift of safety (Wolves, in 17th).
Home or away, it doesn’t matter to Bournemouth
Bournemouth are one of just six sides in the PL with at least 21 points both at home and away this season. Their 22 points won away, where they actually perform better than they do at home, are 4th-best in the league (21 points at home, but only 8th-best). It is little surprise that success has followed them wherever they go, as Andoni Iraola rarely tempers his game plan and opponents typically play right into his hands when they try to possess the ball and build out of the back. One of the most fascinating stories of the summer will be: 1) which clubs come for Iraola; 2) should Bournemouth qualify for the Champions League, would he go?
Player ratings - Southampton vs Bournemouth
What’s next?
- Bournemouth vs Wolves — Saturday, 10 am ET
- Southampton vs Brighton — Saturday, 10 am ET
Southampton vs Bournemouth live updates - by Andy Edwards
Southampton vs Bournemouth final score: 1-3
Goalscorers: Dango Ouattara (14'), Ryan Christie (16'), Kamaldeen Sulemana (72'), Marcus Tavernier (83')
GOAL! Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth: Tavernier puts an end to Saints’ comeback dream (83')
GOAL! Southampton 1-2 Bournemouth: Sulemana pulls one back, gives Saints hope (72')
GOAL! Southampton 0-2 Bournemouth: Christie turns scorer two minutes later (16')
GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Bournemouth: Ouattara heads home Christie’s cross (14')
Bournemouth get the best start they could ask for with two goals in the opening 16 minutes. 🙌
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 15, 2025
📺 Peacock | #SOUBOU pic.twitter.com/p29CV6dCdI
Southampton starting lineup
Ramsdale - Bree, Bednarek, Wood - Walker-Peters, Smallbone, Aribo, Welington - Fernandes, Onuachu, Sulemana
Bournemouth starting lineup
Arrizabalaga - Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez - Christie, Adams, Kluivert - Brooks, Semenyo, Ouattara
How to watch Southampton vs Bournemouth live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday (February 15)
Venue: St Mary’s Stadium — Southampton
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
This is a rivalry that Southampton don’t really focus on (their main beef is with local rivals Portsmouth) and Ivan Juric’s main concern is to try and get closer to safety after their win at Ipswich last time out. Saints were dumped out of the FA Cup but Championship high-fliers Burnley last weekend but are still heading in the right direction under Juric and if they somehow upset Bournemouth this weekend and other results go their way, they’ll still be seven points from safety but they’ll have momentum.
Despite Bournemouth losing at home against Liverpool last time out they have been seriously impressive under Andoni Iraola. The Cherries have navigated huge injury problems and went on a record 11-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. Their fans would love to push Southampton closer to the brink and they are red-hot favorites heading into this game.
Southampton team news, focus
Paul Onuachu scored a late winner at Ipswich and the giant striker gives Saints a focal point and a chance to get higher up the pitch as they now try to press high under Juric. Attackers Kamaldeen Sulemana and Tyler Dibling should start, which is a big boost as they weren’t fit enough to start in the win at Ipswich. Defensively Saints have an issue with Harwood-Bellis and Stephens out. That means Manning or Welington, both left backs, could play as left-sided center backs or Joe Aribo could slot back there from midfield.
OUT: Ross Stewart (lower leg), Jack Stephens (calf), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (ankle), Flynn Downes (club issue) | QUESTIONABLE: Adam Lallana (hamstring)
Bournemouth team news, focus
We all know Bournemouth have huge injury problems, especially in attack, but it hasn’t really shown in recent weeks. Ouattara, Kluivert and Semenyo have been interchanging and flying all over the place and the Cherries are relentless with their press and a real nuisance to play against. If Bournemouth score early, you fear for Southampton.
OUT: Evanilson (broken foot), Enes Unal (knee), Alex Scott (knee), Julian Araujo (thigh), Marcos Senesi (thigh), Adam Smith (knock), James Hill (thigh), Julio Soler (youth international duty) | QUESTIONABLE: Luis Sinisterra (hamstring)
Southampton vs Bournemouth prediction
This should be a fun one as both teams push high and they will put plenty of pressure on defenses to not make mistakes. All signs point to Bournemouth picking Southampton off on the counter and that will happen late on. Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth.
