AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace Predictions

• Bournemouth are unbeaten in five games, winning four of those 
• Crystal Palace have won only four of their last 21 Premier League away matches
• The Cherries did the double over the Eagles last term, keeping a clean sheet in each of those victories

Cherries can continue excellent form

As impressive as Bournemouth were towards the end of their first season under Andoni Iraola, it would have taken a very brave person to predict they would be ahead of Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United come Christmas this time around. 

However, that is exactly where they are ahead of the Boxing Day fixtures, sitting pretty in fifth after 17 games and just three points off the top four – they are good value for that lofty position too. 

The Cherries have beaten Arsenal, City, United and Tottenham this season, proving they can mix it with the big boys on their day, while their 34.3 expected goals in the Premier League can only be bettered by the top two, Liverpool (35.2) and Chelsea (35.4). 

Iraola has clearly put together a cohesive and threatening attacking side and, fresh off a 3-0 rout of their hosts at Old Trafford, his team are in the perfect mood to see off Crystal Palace at the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day. 

Bournemouth bound for another win

A five-game unbeaten run which included draws with Villa, Newcastle and City suggested the Eagles were beginning to show signs of improvement after a shaky start, but the wind has been swiftly taken out of their sails since. 

They were knocked out of the League Cup via a 3-2 loss at Arsenal and followed up that disappointment with a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the same opponents at Selhurst Park. 

Oliver Glasner will be keen to rebuild momentum and lift the mood in the camp after that heavy home defeat, but a trip to the Vitality may not provide the required tonic. 

Semenyo set to star again

Palace lost each of their meetings with Bournemouth last term, failing to score on both occasions, and the Eagles may be set for further misery against the Cherries, who must be dreaming of European football as we near the mid-point of the campaign.

The Eagles are generally poor travellers too, winning only four of their last 21 Premier League away matches, suggesting an in-form Bournemouth are worth backing at a shade of odds-on. 

The Cherries’ aforementioned expected goals figure highlights just how dangerous Iraola’s men can be and Antoine Semenyo is perhaps the pick of the bunch when it comes to their forwards. 

Only Erling Haaland (70) has managed more shots than the Ghanaians’s 67 in the Premier League and he is fancied to find the net for the second straight game, having bagged Bournemouth’s third at Old Trafford on Sunday.