Follow live coverage as AFC Bournemouth face Aston Villa today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
AFC Bournemouth 0 - 1 Aston Villa FC
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:42Edging over the line to claim three precious points, 10-man Aston Villa hold on to beat a subdued Bournemouth side 1-0, taking them up to sixth in the Premier League standings. Meanwhile, the Cherries have slipped to 10th as a result of today's games, leaving their European dreams hanging by a thread. It was a history-making Watkins strike that separated the sides, as his first-half goal made him Villa's outright leading Premier League scorer, shortly after Asensio hit the post. Only when Ramsey was sent off for his second bookable offence with nearly 80 minutes on the clock did Bournemouth finally step on the gas, but it was all too late, as Semenyo and Jebbison both spurned opportunites to equalise at the death. Emery's men may have suffered for long spells without the ball, but they finished with an xG of 0.99 to their hosts' 0.78 and can claim to have carved out all the best chances. Next week, they will play Europa League finalists Tottenham on Friday night, while Bournemouth are next in action away to Manchester City. That's all from the Vitality Stadium today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:34FULL-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 ASTON VILLA
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:34CHANCE! Bournemouth blow a great chance to equalise! First, Semenyo's close-range header is saved sharply by Martinez, before - under pressure from Cash - substitute Jebbison can only steer the rebound over the top from just a couple of yards out! Aston Villa breathe again!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:31An ironic jeer goes up from the noisy away fans, as Cook clips a pass straight over the right byline. It'll be a Villa goal-kick, and Martinez certainly won't rush to take it.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:28There will be at least five minutes added at the end of this match, as stoppage-time specialists Bournemouth seek a last-gasp leveller. Can Aston Villa hold on?
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:27Yellow Card Ezri Ngoyo Konsa
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:24The Cherries come close again, as Zabarnyi nods a cross from Kerkez straight at Martinez from around 10 yards out. He should have done better from there.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:24Substitution Morgan Elliot Rogers Ian Ethan Maatsen
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:24Substitution Miloš Kerkez Daniel David Jebbison
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:23Substitution Illia Zabarnyi Julián Vicente Araujo Zúñiga
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:23PENALTY CHECK! Close in, Kerkez sees a shot clip Cash's arm, leading Bournemouth to claim for a penalty. The Villa full-back was facing the other way, though, with his arms tucked behind his back, so the VAR quickly agrees with the referee's decision to play on.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:21SUPER STOP! Martinez makes a sharp save at close range, as Brooks sets up an Evanilson header, which is parried away by Villa's goalkeeper! Ten-man Villa are struggling, and Bournemouth scent blood!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:20CLOSE! After spinning away from Digne on the edge of the box, Semenyo drives a low shot across the face of goal and just past the far post! That's as close as Bournemouth have come to scoring in this second half!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:19Yellow Card Dean Donny Huijsen
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:16There has been an xG of 0.06 between these two teams throughout a tepid second half, which sums it all up. Villa won't mind, if they can hang on to secure three points that would take them sixth in the table.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:16Yellow 2nd/RC Jacob Matthew Ramsey
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:13Yellow Card Illia Zabarnyi
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:12Another Bournemouth switch sees Adams making way for Senesi.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:12There’s certainly precedent for a potential late twist here. Including a 96th-minute Evanilson leveller in October's 1-1 draw at Villa Park, Bournemouth have scored more goals during second-half stoppage time than any other team in the Premier League this term (eight). Meanwhile, only relegated Southampton (10) have conceded more than Aston Villa (eight).
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:09Though Kluivert opens up space with a driving sprint inside from the left, his subsequent throughball for Tavernier is slightly overhit, allowing Martinez to come out and collect. It's yet more disappointment for the frustrated home fans.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:06Aston Villa make their first changes of the game. Asensio is replaced by club captain McGinn.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:06Substitution Adam James Smith David Robert Brooks
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:06Substitution Tyrone Deon Mings Pau Francisco Torres
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:04With his latest corner-kick, Cook changes tack. He delivers this one to the back post, but Onana stands ready to mop up the danger - he's been a big contributor to Villa's solid defensive display so far.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:03According to Opta's live win predictor, Bournemouth now have just a 29% chance of salvaging something from this match. Iraola looks to be readying more substitutes, with the aim of livening up his side's tame attack.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:02Continuing the trend for long throw-ins, Digne arrows one in from the left, but Bournemouth easily clear their lines. Generally speaking, set-pieces and dead ball situations have been below-par for both teams today.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
19:00Semenyo hurls a long throw-in towards a packed penalty box, but Martinez once more times his intervention correctly, plucking the ball out of the sky without fuss.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:58Asensio hangs up a free-kick from the left touchline towards Cash, and the latter's nod-down is met by Onana. However, the big Belgian midfielder also catches Kluivert, gifting Bournemouth a free-kick.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:57Martinez again claims the ball serenely, as another Bournemouth attack ends. Can the hosts find a spark from somewhere? Otherwise, their European dreams could be going up in smoke.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:56Bournemouth have scored more than once in just one of their last 12 home games, and they've produced only two shots in today's game so far. It's tough to see them fighting back to win - but they did snatch a draw in this season's reverse fixture against Villa.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:53After Kerkez wins a corner-kick on the left side, Cook drives it towards the near post, where Onana is waiting to turn the ball behind. From Cook's second attempt, the ball bobbles around dangerously for a couple of seconds before Martinez moves through the pack and claims it.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:51Muttering towards the referee about Cook's challenge, Onana is back on his feet as the action resumes. Moments later, play is paused again for a minor injury sustained by Kerkez. It's quite a niggly contest.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:50Onana stays down after being clipped by Cook in midfield. He was Tielemans' replacement for today's game, so Emery will hope he can continue - though Barkley is available on the bench.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:47Following a fairly tame first half, this second period has started more promisingly. Bournemouth are trying to move the ball more quickly, while Kluivert's introduction has given Villa's back four something different to think about.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:45Half-time sub Kluivert makes a quick impact, dashing into the box and looking set to shoot. However, he topples over too easily when Martinez races out to narrow the angle, and his subsequent penalty claims are waved away.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:43Teed up by Ramsey's persistent work on the edge of the area, Kamara takes aim and lines up a shot. However, he drags his attempt well wide of the right-hand post.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:41Aston Villa kick off, and we are back under way at the Vitality Stadium!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:41Substitution Alex Jay Scott Justin Dean Kluivert
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:36Bournemouth can't afford to lose this match, as they'd stay 10th behind Brentford and Brighton in the race for eighth place. That position should be enough to secure European qualification. Meanwhile, Villa are keeping themselves in the mix for a return to the Champions League. Whatever happens today, there are sure to be more twists and turns for both teams this season.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:31Capping a brief flurry of action at the end of an otherwise subdued first half, Aston Villa take a 1-0 lead over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Becoming his club's leading Premier League goalscorer, Watkins glanced home a deft finish to beat Kepa, who had previously made two saves, soon after Asensio struck a post. Before that, a staccato encounter lacked any real rhythm, and the home side failed to make much of their big share of the ball. Despite having 64% possession, the Cherries post a half-time xG of just 0.07 compared to Villa's 0.93, and they must sharpen up across the final third. As things stand, Emery will be happier of the two Basque bosses, with his team on track to draw level with both Chelsea and Newcastle United on 63 points.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:26HALF-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 ASTON VILLA
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:22Assist Morgan Elliot Rogers
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:22Yellow Card Jacob Matthew Ramsey
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:20Yellow Card Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:19DOUBLE STOP! Imbued with fresh confidence after hitting the woodwork, Asensio sparks a lovely Villa attack. He turns in midfield and plays the ball wide to Digne, whose cross is headed towards the target by Kamara. Kepa then makes a smart stop, before keeping out Cash's attempt on the follow-up!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:17Following a number of stoppages earlier on, there will be at least six minutes added to the end of this pretty pedestrian first half.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:17OFF THE POST! Out of nowhere, Villa almost go in front! Asensio shoots against the base of the right-hand post, having picked the ball up outside Bournemouth's box and then drilled in a low strike! That's as close as we've come to an opening goal.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:14Kamara clatters Evanilson with a clumsy challenge, so the Cherries have a free-kick in a central position, around 25 yards from goal. Summing up this contest's lack of quality so far, Scott lofts it high over everyone in the area, allowing Martinez to come out and comfortably claim the ball.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:12With a combined xG of just 0.18 so far, this game has yet to ignite. There's more frustration for Bournemouth, as Evanilson fails to control Scott's pinged pass and lets the ball run away from him on the edge of Villa's box.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:11Asensio sends in a free-kick, hanging it up towards the penalty spot, but a formidable combination of Mings and Konsa topples Kerkez in Bournemouth's box. Kepa will take the free-kick.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:08After Digne concedes a corner, Tavernier takes it short to Semenyo, but Bournemouth again fail to capitalise on a set-piece opportunity. Instead, Villa burst forward on the break, and Ramsey wins the visitors a free-kick around 30 yards from goal.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:06Starved of service, Watkins races after an angled ball up from the back, but it drifts away over the left touchline. He's only one goal away from breaking Aston Villa's Premier League goal record, but there have been no significant chances to do so today.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:04There's no doubt that Bournemouth have bossed the ball - with a 67% share of possession so far - and they are now starting to push Villa back. There are 10 white shirts inside the visitors' defensive third, all shielding the box.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:02Semenyo and Tavernier make a mess of a short-corner routine, but Bournemouth regain the ball. From deep, Huijsen sends a searching pass into the box, which skips away from Tavernier at the back post and behind for a goal-kick.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:59Consistently good against the top eight, Bournemouth have won seven of 13 Premier League games against teams above them in the table, only losing three. They are keeping seventh-placed Villa at arm's length so far.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:59Yellow Card Marco Asensio Willemsen
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:57Yellow Card Alex Jay Scott
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:56Midway through this disjointed first half, it remains a fairly even encounter. As things stand, Opta's live win predictor has Bournemouth as slight favourites to prevail, with a 37% chance of victory compared to Aston Villa's 35%.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:54Trying to catch the hosts out, Onana pumps a long ball through the centre for ever-willing Watkins to chase, but the Villa striker is beaten to it by Huijsen, who sweeps up any danger.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:53Leaping to meet Scott's cross, Evanilson fails to make contact with a glancing header in the box, but the ball strikes Mings and forces Martinez into a smart save - albeit one that he would expect to make.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:51Scott has returned, so Bournemouth are back to 11 men. With all the stoppages so far, this game has not really settled into any rhythm.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:50The game resumes, but Scott is not yet back into the fray as he continues to nurse a sore head. Ramsey races to the left byline and cuts the ball back, before Zabarnyi makes a good clearance.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:48Alert to the danger, Kepa races off his line and clears the ball away from a lurking Watkins. Meanwhile, Scott drops back down to the turf - this time he was caught by Onana - and he'll need more treatment. Play is paused once again.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:46CLOSE! Onana steals possession and drives through midfield at full pelt, then picks out Watkins on the edge of the box. The latter then loses the ball, but it rolls out towards Ramsey. After taking a touch to set himself, the Villa midfielder fires just a few feet wide of the right-hand post!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:44After receiving treatment, following a collision with team-mate Scott, Kepa is cleared to continue. He puts his gloves back on, ready to take the free-kick that will restart play.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:42Hurled in on a flat trajectory, Digne's long throw-in from the left causes havoc in Bournemouth's box: Kepa spills the ball before a foul on Semenyo lets the home side off.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:41Scott is now back on his feet, looking like he'll continue. After beating Bournemouth's top scorer Kluivert to selection, he'll be keen to make a big impression today.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:40Having charged into ex-Bournemouth defender Mings, Scott drops to the turf and appears to be in some pain. It looks like he took a blow to the head, so the medics will check him over closely. Play is paused momentarily.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:38After Ramsey bustles through the centre of the pitch before running into a dead end, he lays a pass off to Onana around 30 yards from goal. However, a promising position comes to nothing when the Belgian midfielder - replacing compatriot Tielemans today - lofts a ball straight towards Kepa.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:35Cutting back inside from the left flank, Semenyo sends over a cross - apparently towards the back post - but his delivery is heavily overhit and sails straight out over the byline. It's an Aston Villa goal-kick.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:34Emery is unbeaten in five managerial meetings with opposite number Iraola - winning three and drawing two so far - and both Basque bosses really need a win today. In the early evening sun, Bournemouth have made a bright start.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:32The hosts kick off, and we are under way in Bournemouth!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:31Both teams are out on the pitch, so kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:22Aston Villa make four changes. Most notably, Onana replaces last week’s match-winner Tielemans in midfield, as the latter has been hit by a muscular injury. Villa skipper McGinn makes way for Ramsey, while Mings and Digne replace Pau Torres and Maatsen at the back. In Marcus Rashford’s ongoing absence, Watkins will start up front.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:22Ruled out by a potentially season-ending groin injury, Bournemouth winger Dango Ouattara joins Luis Sinisterra, Ryan Christie and Enes Unal on the sidelines, so Semenyo returns to the starting XI after being benched last week. Elsewhere, Araujo and top scorer Kluivert make way for Smith and Scott.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:17SUBS: Robin Olsen, Axel Disasi, Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Pau Torres, Andres Garcia, Donyell Malen, Ian Maatsen, Leon Bailey.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:17ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana; Morgan Rogers, Marco Asensio, Jacob Ramsey; Ollie Watkins.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:12SUBS: Will Dennis, Marcos Senesi, David Brooks, Justin Kluivert, Julio Soler, Daniel Jebbison, Julian Araujo, James Hill, Ben Winterburn.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:12BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Adam Smith, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez; Lewis Cook, Tyler Adams; Antoine Semenyo, Alex Scott, Marcus Tavernier; Evanilson.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:07Aston Villa still have top-five aspirations, though their hopes of a second successive season in the Champions League could rest on making a flawless end to the campaign. Just three points adrift of fifth place before today’s game, Unai Emery’s men beat Fulham 1-0 last weekend. After posting just six wins from 21 Premier League matches between September and February, Villa have now won seven of the last nine - but eight of their nine defeats this term have come away from home.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:07Peaking at the right time, Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games - having lost four of the previous five - leaving them in contention to qualify for next season’s Conference League. After their 2-1 success at Arsenal last time out, Andoni Iraola’s men are now looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time since January, which would move them back up to eighth place. Since losing 1-0 at home to Aston Villa in their first ever Premier League fixture, almost 10 years ago, the Cherries are unbeaten in three at home to the Villans, scoring twice on each occasion.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:02Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
15:30Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
