Marcus Tavernier believes Bournemouth’s efficiency of their thrilling 4-4 draw in opposition to Manchester United exhibits the workforce are returning to their early-season type.
Tavernier each scored and assisted in the identical Premier League recreation for the third time, getting each these contributions within the first six minutes of the second half on Monday.
Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha then put the Crimson Devils 4-3 up earlier than Junior Kroupi netted an 84th-minute equaliser to cap a loopy encounter at Previous Trafford.
It was a outcome that stored Bournemouth down in thirteenth within the Premier League desk, however with lowly Burnley up subsequent, Tavernier is assured a return to successful methods is imminent.
“We ended the sport strongly and, if anybody was going to attain a winner, it felt like it could be us,” he stated. “We’ll replicate on this efficiency and see the place we will enhance.
“There are plenty of positives for us to take, particularly in opposition to a workforce that’s in good type. We’re beginning to carry out extra like ourselves once more, and we all know what we’re able to.”
That was a sentiment echoed by Bournemouth captain Adam Smith, who believes the Cherries are on an upward trajectory within the Premier League.
“We had been ourselves final week in opposition to Chelsea, and we had been ourselves once more, aside from that first 20 minutes,” Smith added.
“It’s tight margins in these video games, however the perception on this group is very large. Hopefully, issues will swing our means as a result of if we preserve performing like this, good issues will come.”
1+1 – In Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier and Manchester United Bruno Fernandes, each side scored a direct free-kick in a Premier League recreation for the primary time since QPR v Wigan Athletic in January 2012 (Ákos Buzsáky and Hugo Rodallega). Rarity. pic.twitter.com/8R5LvWifL2
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 15, 2025
Burnley, in the meantime, had been concerned in an enthralling recreation of their very own on the weekend, however their struggles continued as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at residence to Fulham.
Certainly, their defeat signifies that they continue to be on 10 Premier League factors after 16 video games, their second-lowest tally at this stage of a season in any division this century.
However Scott Parker was left to rue a number of missed alternatives through the contest, additionally lamenting his workforce’s lack of ability to keep up their defensive focus.
The Clarets are handed simply an 11.3% likelihood of ending outdoors the underside three by the Opta supercomputer, and Parker acknowledged the problem of reaching Premier League survival.
“It’s a component of focus and focus. It’s a lethal league. One lapse in focus and 9 instances out of 10 it’s behind the online,” Parker stated.
“There are large positives from in the present day. The fantastic margins are what we’ve been on the flawed finish of. The upper stage you go in life, it’s the finer margins.
“I really feel I’ve a powerful group. You may’t deny it is a group absolutely dedicated collectively. Human nature tells you it’ll take its toll. It’s my job to attempt to raise us up.
“We had a mountain to climb on this league. The mountain isn’t large for us. It’s only a tiny bit [we need to fix].”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bournemouth – Junior Kroupi
After going 5 Premier League video games with out discovering the again of the online, Kroupi scored the ultimate aim in Bournemouth’s thrilling draw with United at Previous Trafford.
Certainly, 42% of the Premier League targets scored by youngsters this season have been netted by Kroupi (5/12).
Amongst youngsters in Europe’s massive 5 leagues this season, solely Lamine Yamal, Yan Diomande and Stated El Mala (six every) have netted extra typically than Kroupi.
Burnley – Zian Flemming
Flemming has scored in his final 4 away Premier League appearances for Burnley (5 targets), the very best run by a Clarets participant.
He’s ended on the dropping aspect in his final three away video games regardless of scoring – no participant has ever scored in 4 away Premier League matches in a row and misplaced each one.
MATCH PREDICTION: BOURNEMOUTH WIN
Bournemouth did the double over Burnley the final time they met in 2023-24, as many wins as they’d managed of their earlier 13 league video games in opposition to the Clarets (W2 D3 L8).
The Cherries are, nevertheless, now winless of their final seven Premier League matches (D3 L4), final having an extended run between Might and October 2023 (13 video games).
They’ve additionally failed to attain in every of their final two residence Premier League matches – they haven’t gone three with out a aim since between August and September 2023.
However they are going to be assured of ending these respective stretches in opposition to a Burnley aspect who’ve misplaced their final seven Premier League video games.
Defeat right here would see them equal the longest-ever dropping run of their league historical past, having misplaced eight in a row 3 times beforehand – from November 1889 to February 1890 (top-flight), March to September 1895 (top-flight) and January to February 1995 (second tier).
Nonetheless, Burnley have received three of their final 4 Premier League away video games in opposition to Bournemouth, though they misplaced on their final go to, 2-1 in October 2023.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Bournemouth – 63.6%
Draw – 19.4%
Burnley – 17%