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
18:22
Assist Morgan Elliot Rogers
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:22
Yellow Card Jacob Matthew Ramsey
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:20
Yellow Card Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
18:19
DOUBLE 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
18:17
Following 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
18:17
OFF 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
18:14
Kamara 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
18:12
With 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
18:11
Asensio 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
18:08
After 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
18:06
Starved 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
18:04
There'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
18:02
Semenyo 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
17:59
Consistently 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
17:59
Yellow Card Marco Asensio Willemsen
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:57
Yellow Card Alex Jay Scott
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:56
Midway 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
17:54
Trying 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
17:53
Leaping 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
17:51
Scott 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
17:50
The 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
17:48
Alert 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
17:46
CLOSE! 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
17:44
After 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
17:42
Hurled 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
17:41
Scott 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
17:40
Having 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
17:38
After 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
17:35
Cutting 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
17:34
Emery 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
17:32
The hosts kick off, and we are under way in Bournemouth!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:31
Both teams are out on the pitch, so kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:22
Aston 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
17:22
Ruled 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
17:17
SUBS: Robin Olsen, Axel Disasi, Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Pau Torres, Andres Garcia, Donyell Malen, Ian Maatsen, Leon Bailey.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:17
ASTON 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
17:12
SUBS: Will Dennis, Marcos Senesi, David Brooks, Justin Kluivert, Julio Soler, Daniel Jebbison, Julian Araujo, James Hill, Ben Winterburn.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
17:12
BOURNEMOUTH (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
17:07
Aston 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
17:07
Peaking 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
17:02
Hello 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
15:30
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
