Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa look to take the next steps to a European place when it visits newly-promoted Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium at 10am ET Saturday (Watch live online via Peacock Premium).
Villa won just twice over the final 11 matches of the last Premier League season following a Gerrard-led resurgence. Those wins came against Burnley and Norwich City, who are — you might’ve noticed — no longer in the division.
STREAM LIVE BOURNEMOUTH vs ASTON VILLA
Villa brought in Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara this offseason and will be hopeful of starting hot without a top-four challenger on its fixture list until Week 5 versus Arsenal (Apologies to Week 4 opponent West Ham).
Bournemouth’s next fights are Man City and Arsenal, so the Cherries will be hoping home cooking against Villa is the right start to life in the PL.
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How to watch Bournemouth vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday
Stream online: Watch live on Peacock Premium
Key storylines
The Cherries are not expected to thrive in the top flight but we’ve heard that storyline looks foolish in the past. Can Scott Parker’s men deliver goals? Dominic Solanke needs to bring finishing from the Championship to the Premier League?
Villa’s poor finish to the 2021-22 season is in the past and there are a lot of reasons to feel good about the recruitment and a full preseason under Gerrard. But a slow start, especially a setback against Bournemouth, given the club’s forgiving early fixture list could have fans and pundits alike combing over April and May of 2021.
In-form players to keep an eye on
Form is going to be a question mark on Opening Day but keep an eye on:
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Diego Carlos, Aston Villa
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Emi Buendia, Aston Villa
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Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa
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Lloyd Kelly, Bournemouth
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Philip Billing, Bournemouth
Bournemouth team news, injuries, lineup options
Ryan Fredericks is closing in on a return but it seems likely Saturday will come too soon, while David Brooks and Joseph Rothwell will definitely miss out.
Aston Villa team news, injuries, lineup options
Kortney Hause should be Villa’s lone injury absence.
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Bournemouth vs Aston Villa: How to watch live, stream link, team news originally appeared on NBCSports.com