Bournemouth host Wolves at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, looking to bounce back from the disappointing defeat against Liverpool on the opening day.

Andoni Iraola and his charges produced a strong performance away from home, but they were beaten eventually. There were positive signs in the defeat, and Bournemouth will look to pick up their first win of the season in the home game vs Wolves at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Wolves were comprehensively beaten by Manchester City in their season opener. It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back strongly. The Black Country outfit have struggled against Bournemouth in recent meetings, and this will be a difficult outing for them.

The Cherries have lost some key players this summer, but they have shown their spirit and quality against Liverpool in the opening game. Bourmemouth will be aiming for a successful season, and they need to pick up points in these games.

Meanwhile, Wolves were fighting for survival last season, and they need to do better this time around. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Bournemouth

The home team will be without Enes Unal, who is sidelined with an injury. Lewis Cook remains suspended, and Justin Kluivert is struggling with a calf problem. Bournemouth will shape up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation vs Wolves, with Djordje Petrovic in goal.

Adam Smith and Adrien Truffert will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight defensively and help out in the attack. At the heart of the defence, Bafode Diakite will start alongside Marcos Senesi.

As for the midfield unit, Alex Scott will start alongside Tyler Adams in the double pivot. They will look to protect the team defensively and create transitions from the deep. Marcus Tavernier will start in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack.

Antoine Semenyo and David Brooks will start on the flanks. They will look to create opportunities for their teammates and look to score goals as well. Finally, Evanilson will lead the line for Bournemouth vs Wolves on Saturday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Adams; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Evanilson

Wolves

The visitors have no injury concerns, and Vitor Pereira will be able to field his full-strength line-up here. Wolves are likely to shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation vs Bournemouth, with Jose Sa in goal. In the back three, Matt Doherty will start alongside Emmanuel Agbadou and Toti Gomes.

Ki-Jana Hoever will start as the wing-back here alongside David Moller Wolfe. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Joao Gomes will start in the midfield alongside Andre. They will look to add defensive cover and control from the midfield.

Fer Lopez will start alongside Marshall Munetsi in the attacking midfield roles, and they will look to drift out into the wide areas as well. Jacob Strand Larsen will lead the line for Wolves vs Bournemouth on Saturday.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Sa; Doherty, Agbadou, Toti Gomes; Hoever, Joao Gomes, Andre, Wolfe; Lopez, Munetsi; Larsen

Key stats

• Wolves are undefeated in their last six away matches vs Bournemouth.
• Wolves have failed to win their last five matches in the Premier League.
• Bournemouth have won four of the last six matches against Wolves.
• 14 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
• Only Sunderland (396) applied more high-intensity pressures than Bournemouth (394) in Gameweek 1, with Bournemouth Evanilson applying the joint-most high-intensity pressures in the opponent’s half of any player (43).

Player to Watch

Antoine Semenyo

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The Ghanaian international is our key player to watch out for. Semenyo has been a key player for Bournemouth over the last 12 months, and he was outstanding against Liverpool in Gameweek 1. Semenyo caused all sorts of problems for the Liverpool defence with his pace, power and movement. He managed to score a brace for his side as well.

The 25-year-old will look to take advantage of Wolves’ defensive vulnerabilities and punish them here. Bournemouth will need him to step up and deliver in the final third. Semenyo has netted a brace in each of his last two Premier League appearances, having only scored more than once in one of his first 80 matches in the competition.

He is the second Ghanaian to achieve this feat, along with Tony Yeboah in 1995, while the only African player to score 2+ goals in three appearances in a row is Papiss Cisse in April 2012 for Newcastle.

Prediction

Bournemouth 2-1 Wolves

Bournemouth are the better team on paper, and they will have taken some heart from the performance against Liverpool. The Cherries have the quality to grind out a victory here, and it remains to be seen whether they can get the job done.

Wolves have looked quite vulnerable at the back, and Bournemouth have the quality to punish them. Both teams are likely to get on the scoresheet here, but Bournemouth should be able to edge this one. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Andoni Iraola and his charges.