Premier League: Villa have the Cherries in their Sights

Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth

It may be an 11^th versus fifth encounter but when Premier League: Aston Villa vs Bournemouth plays out on Sunday afternoon, the two teams may even change places. 

In a congested top half of the Premier League table only three points separate Liverpool in third place from the Villans in 11^th so a win either way will make a world of difference. Unai Emery’s side came a cropper last week when they lost to Arne Slot’s Reds, falling to a 2-0 defeat, coming on the back of a four match winning run. Meanwhile Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth also fell to a giant, losing 3-1 to Manchester City, giving up their second place in the process. 

The Cherries have a week to prepare for this pivotal clash, meanwhile Villa have a difficult distraction ahead of them on Thursday when Maccabi Tel Aviv are set to arrive in Birmingham for a Europa League clash. More than 700 police officers will be on duty for that meeting, while those not attending the match have been warned to stay away. It’s a game Emery’s side could really do with winning, having lost to Go Ahead Eagles last time out in the Europa League. 

The Villa manager will shuffle his pack on Thursday in the hope of a comfortable night; the Israeli’s are in the elimination places with just one point from three games. 

And then it’s on to Bournemouth.               

 

Talking Points

Watkins needs a goal 

Villa went to Anfield last weekend full of confidence, winning six of their last seven games in all competitions, while Liverpool were on a wretched run. The Reds were a little lucky, getting a helping hand from the usually excellent Emi Martinez who passed out to Pau Torres, only for the Spaniard to fall and let in the lethal Mo Salah. 

Ollie Watkins has been the Villans’ best striker in recent seasons but he’s only scored one so far this term, not for the want of trying, and he took some of the blame for Aston Villa’s slow start to the campaign. Watkins showed what he can do when he beat Fulham’s Bernd Leno with a beautiful chip…but now he needs more goals. 

Goal-getting isn’t all Watkins’ responsibility; Morgan Rogers carries a goal threat and Donyell Malen scored an impressive brace in a 2-1 win over Burnley. But the England striker, when he’s on his game, is a quick, inventive and exciting player; Emery has his team well organised and if they get their main man firing again they will fly.      

 

Cherries are settled under Iraola 

Bournemouth lost some big names during the 2025 summer transfer window and a fair few neutrals, this SBOTOP writer included, expected them to struggle. Indeed the Aston Villa vs Bournemouth betting odds back the hosts to win this Sunday, but the Cherries manager has reason to be pleased with the club’s progress this term. 

Last weekend’s trip to Manchester City was never going to be a walk in the park but Bournemouth were competitive for much of the game, only to be beaten by a brace from the unstoppable Erling Haaland. Iraola welcomed back winger David Brooks, who took the captain’s armband after recovering from a hamstring strain and the young midfield duo of Tyler Adams and Alex Scott battled well against City’s powerful midfield. And the Cherries have strength at either end of the pitch. Djordje Petrovic, signed from Chelsea, has kept four clean sheets and Bournemouth carry have a serious goal threat.  

Striker Antoine Semenyo has been in superb form, with six goals and three assists putting him in joint second place in the race for the Golden Boot, way behind Haaland it has to be said!   

 

History 

The head-to-head Aston Villa vs Bournemouth results have been keenly contested since the Cherries rose to the top table, though both teams have spent some time in the second tier relatively recently. The Villans have had the better of the encounters with seven wins to five and there have been three draws. 

This meeting ended in a 1-1 draw last season before Villa won 1-0 on the South coast in May.   

With four wins and two from the last six games, Villa have certainly recovered from their early-season malaise while the Cherries have been struggling to collect three points consistently, with two wins, three draws and one defeat from the last six.   

 

Betting Tip

With Bournemouth at SBOTOP odds of 3.30 and the draw at 3.40 all results are in play here and, while Villa have a date on Thursday night they have strength in depth to cope. 

For an alternative bet I’d take a look at 2-3 goals at a price of 1.89, while a 2-1 home win is available at 8.50. 

   

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