It may be unfair to suggest that the 76-year-old Roy Hodgson could learn a thing or two from Andoni Iraola, who is 35 years younger than the former England manager. But the manner of this impressive display that put Bournemouth level on points with Crystal Palace, with a third victory from their past four matches, suggests that the Spaniard in his first season of Premier League management was an inspired appointment. Palace were outplayed during the first half when Marcos Senesi headed the visitors ahead and could not respond before the substitute Kiefer Moore made sure of the points late on ..read more

Oleksandr Zinchenko struggles to strike right balance, Vincent Kompany gets a break and Chelsea still too naive Oleksandr Zinchenko’s mixed bag of a performance showed the full-back’s qualities in attack but once more highlighted his defensive deficiencies. While Zinchenko was instrumental in the brilliant team goal scored by Martin Ødegaard that gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead over Wolves, a series of errors culminated with him giving the ball away cheaply to allow Matheus Cunha’s late strike that threatened what could have been a comfortable victory for the league leaders. While Mikel Arteta brushed ..read more

Just as it seemed Aston Villa would succumb to the kind of defeat that would stick in the throat, Unai Emery’s side salvaged a point at a rejuvenated Bournemouth courtesy of a deft Ollie Watkins header with second-half stoppage time looming. At the end of the season, if not sooner, this could feasibly rank as a healthy takeaway given the margins in their explicit quest to qualify for the Champions League. Zoom out to analyse the bigger picture and Villa, imperious on home turf, remain very much poised to challenge ..read more

Marcus Tavernier fired a double as Bournemouth dismantled Sheffield United to maintain their resurgence under Andoni Iraola. Tavernier struck early in both halves, his brace sandwiching Justin Kluivert’s first Premier League goal. Substitute Oli McBurnie headed a stoppage-time consolation for the Blades, who remain in the relegation zone after a 10th defeat in 13 league games ..read more

A mouthwatering clash in Manchester, Forest making do without Awoniyi and Everton hosting in a real cauldron Is Erling Haaland fit? He thinks so. Which of these gladiatorial contenders will adopt a higher line? Might there be touchline antics from Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp? And which of the Premier League leaders and the second-placed side will emerge on top? For subplots, sideshows and headline narratives, Manchester City’s hosting of Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime is this weekend’s only game in town, such an enticing prospect that whatever occurs cannot – surely – be anything other tha ..read more

Sign up to Jonathan’s weekly newsletter here Twelve weeks into the season, there have been zero managerial dismissals – have clubs begun to realize that changing managers is not a panacea? All is calm, and it’s a little disconcerting. Last season, a record 14 Premier League managers left their jobs, but with a third of this campaign gone, we are still awaiting out first dismissal. It’s true that prime sacking season is not yet quite upon us and that the opening of the transfer window in January may focus minds but, still, this is a period of unusual stability. So what lies behind it? Immedia ..read more

Chelsea are becoming great entertainers, Zinchenko provides solutions for Arsenal and Fulham need goals If in doubt, watch Chelsea. For the second time in six days, Mauricio Pochettino’s blend of youth and experience staged a fabulous show and scored four times against a fellow member of the old Big Six. Their 4-4 against Manchester City was not so much a soap opera, more a box-set thriller squeezed into 105 minutes. When City took the lead through the two most boring words in the football lexicon – “Haaland pen” – it wasn’t hard to see Chelsea crumbling. But then they had gone a goal down at ..read more

Defender argues with fans after 2-0 loss at Bournemouth Manager Eddie Howe: ‘Kieran is fine. Emotions run high’ Kieran Trippier argued with angry Newcastle fans following the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth for Eddie Howe’s injury-hit side. The injury-hit visitors were downed by Dominic Solanke’s second-half double on the south coast. The players went to applaud the travelling fans after the final whistle and footage of Trippier was posted on social media showing him responding to one supporter by saying: “Are the lads not giving everything? How many injuries have we got ..read more

Bournemouth laboured for an hour until a Dominic Solanke brace helped them see off an injury-ravaged Newcastle side that offered precious little Read Jonathan Wilson’s match report from the Vitality Stadium Philip Billing update: The word on the street is that the Bournemouth midfielder misses out after picking up an unspecified “knock” in training. Not long now: The teams are led out by their respective skippers, Neto and Jamal Lascelles. They walk past some members of the armed forces, who are lined up outside the tunnel exit and take their places either side of Chris Kavanagh and his team ..read more

There is a yellow wall in Bournemouth, but it is made of sandstone and lies beneath the row of pines that edge the cricket pitch just over the road from the car park. Having played in front of the Yellow Wall at Dortmund on Tuesday – capacity of stand: 25,000 – a process of recalibration is required for Newcastle to play at Dean Court – capacity of stadium: 11,379. That readjustment, as much as fatigue, is the problem presented by the Champions League. And it is becoming a problem: Newcastle have won only one of four games after European ties this season. That was, admittedly, the 8-0 win at S ..read more