Bournemouth will kick off their second season back in the Premier League on Saturday, as they welcome West Ham United to Dean Court. Both sides will be looking to start the season with maximum points, but which team will come out on top?\
Premier League Preview
It has been a summer of change at Dean Court, as Gary O’Neil was relieved of his duties after guiding the club to safety in the 2022-23 campaign. Many saw the decision to be extremely harsh on the former coach, as the Cherries were tipped by many to suffer relegation back to the Championship. However, the club ended the previous campaign in excellent form, as they finished 15th overall in the standings.
But, a new approach will be taken by Andoni Iraola, as there will be a greater emphasis on a possession-based game. The coach immediately saw limitations in the final third, and they have been addressed with the summer additions of Justin Kluivert and Hamed Traore. The latter impressed toward the end of last season on loan at the club.
The 2022-23 season was a campaign to forget for the most part for West Ham, but it ultimately ended in history, as they ended their 40-year wait for a major trophy after winning the Europa Conference League. However, the new season will bring fresh challenges for the Hammers, as they have lost Declan Rice after the midfielder signed for Arsenal for a British-record fee.
West Ham have added a midfielder to replace the Gunners star, with Edson Alvarez brought in from Ajax. However, David Moyes will be hopeful of more reinforcements before the end of the transfer window. The club will likely look to bring in a new striker after Gianluca Scamacca’s departure, while Michail Antonio could yet leave the club.
Bournemouth vs West Ham Head to Head
West Ham have won their last three against the Cherries, which includes a 2-0 win in this exact fixture in October 2022. The Hammers are unbeaten in four against the Cherries. However, Bournemouth has won two of the previous four clashes between the sides at Dean Court.
Bournemouth vs West Ham Prediction
The Cherries have been busy throughout the summer, and they could be a side to watch over the opening weeks of the campaign. However, it could be hard to overlook West Ham’s excellent record in this fixture, which means a chance will be taken on an away win.
Make sure to bet on Bournemouth vs West Ham with 22Bet!
Bet here
