Bournemouth

First choice Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers is relishing the added competition of Brazil international Neto as he contemplates another tough assignment in the Premier League this weekend.

The Republic of Ireland international has shipped seven goals in heavy defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal and knows a trip to Anfield means life might not getting easier for the Cherries.

However, he is confident his team-mates will go there with an optimistic outlook.

"We had a good result in the cup against Norwich and we're going up there in a positive mind," he said.

"When you come into the Premier League, you have to be realistic that you will concede goals because you're up against some of the best players in the world.

"However, it's about not getting too down and take that into the next game. It's a fresh 90 minutes to go again and put in a good performance."

Neto, 33, was signed from Barcelona earlier this month and has made an impact at the Cherries' training ground.

"When you play in the Premier League, you know the competition will be extremely high," said Travers. "It's great to have Neto and the experience he brings.

"He's a very good goalkeeper who has played at the highest level. We're training as hard as we can every day to push each other."

Listen to the full Travers interview on BBC Radio Solent here

Image source, PA Media

Scott Parker says he is cautious about giving predictions for the recovery of David Brooks but admits the signs are promising.

It is 11 months since Brooks last played for Bournemouth after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma but the 25-year-old has been cancer-free since May and is making progress in his desire to return to first-team football.

"I’m always very wary around Brooksy in terms of giving defined dates on exactly when he may be coming back," said Parker.

"But he’s definitely heading in the right direction. He’s done the most amount of work over the last 10 days and he’s come through that very, very well.

"I’d like to think that in the coming weeks, we’ll be in a position where I can say to you that we can start seeing him in and around matchday squads and being at a level of fitness that we think is adequate to go and operate in the Premier League."

Brooks has made 90 appearances for the Cherries, scoring 17 goals and supplying 13 assists since joining from Sheffield United in 2018.

Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Bournemouth’s game with Liverpool on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Dominic Solanke could be in line for a return to the Bournemouth side but Parker is waiting for him to train on Friday.

• Junior Stanislas, Ryan Fredericks and Joe Rothwell remain unavailable, although Fredericks is closest to a return. Ryan Lowe is back in training after sickness.

• Parker is cautious on the fitness timetable of David Brooks but admits he is “definitely not” ruling out the Wales midfielder recovering in time to play at the World Cup.

• On the possibility of new arrivals: “We need bodies through the door to evolve as a football club. Days are going by and it’s been pretty tricky.”

Ainsley Maitland-Niles "just needs to play football" after the Arsenal midfielder was linked with moves to Southampton, Bournemouth and West Ham.

That's the view of Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards as he weighs up what next for an England international whose career has stalled over the past two seasons.

"I can't quite believe he is still at Arsenal," Edwards told the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast. "He's been on the fringes of the first team there since 2016 and never really made it.

"But there is a really good player there with talent, ability and quality. He needs to move."

Southampton and Bournemouth have been mooted as destinations for a season-long loan with Maitland-Niles entering the final year of his contract.

"I think it's likely he'll end up at one of them," said Edwards. "He just needs to go and play football and I hope he can go on to have the career we thought he would have when he was 20."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Southampton and Bournemouth are discussing a possible deal for Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles, with the Gunners potentially open to a loan move with an option to buy. (TalkSport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Mark Mitchener, BBC Sport

When news broke on Tuesday that winger Siriki Dembele had not travelled with the Bournemouth squad to Norwich for their Carabao Cup tie, with a loan move to Besiktas in the offing, there was concern among fans that a player only signed in January was being discarded. 

However, boss Scott Parker faces a delicate balancing act while finalising his 25-man squad before the transfer window closes. 

The good news for the Cherries is that they have more players classed as “homegrown” under Premier League rules, than any other team – so this is not an issue. 

The bad news for Parker is that he is already at the limit of 25 players, so for each new signing made from here, a fringe player such as Dembele must leave permanently or on loan – or be forced to kick their heels until January. 

Under-21 players (born after 1 January 2001) do not count towards the 25-man limit, but of the 27 players listed as “first team” on the club website, only defender James Hill and striker Christian Saydee meet the under-21 criteria. 

Even third-choice goalkeeper Will Dennis (born July 2000) is now a “senior”, though Parker can call on an unlimited number of under-21 players, four of whom debuted at Norwich. 

• Liverpool have won their past six Premier League games against Bournemouth by an aggregate score of 19-1.

• Bournemouth have lost seven of their eight matches at Anfield - the exception being a 2-2 draw in the Premier League in April 2017.

• Jurgen Klopp's side are yet to win in the league in 2022-23. They last started a season more slowly in 2012-13, when they failed to win any of their opening five opening five games.

• Cherries boss Scott Parker was the last opposing manager to win a Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield, with his Fulham side in March 2021.

Image source, Getty Images

Scott Parker has praised the character of his young Bournemouth side after their Carabao Cup win over Norwich.

The Cherries boss made nine changes from Saturday's Premier League defeat by Arsenal.

He was pleased with the resilience shown at Carrow Road after his players twice came from behind to beat Dean Smith's side on penalties and reach the third round.

"It was a good night, I thought the way we played tonight was fantastic," he said.

"The game probably should have been out of sight, the keeper was absolutely exceptional for them, pulled off some incredible saves and we have not done a lot wrong - he was making saves he didn't have the right to do.

"We showed big character at the end, to go down 2-1 with a young team on the pitch.

"You come to a place like this, difficult game, players that haven't played a lot of minutes.

"My criticism of the group was in the first-half performance. It was painful highlighting that and what we expect them to be this year, and to a man today they put it out there, exactly what I wanted."

Craig Beazley, UTCIAD, external

After a tough couple of games against Manchester City and Arsenal - with seven goals conceded and none scored - we are travelling to Norwich City in the Carabao Cup, where last season we conceded six goals and scored none in reply.

Is this a welcome distraction? For a side who will ultimately be fighting relegation, this will be viewed by many as a game which we could do without in a competition that is devalued by so many.

Look at the Championship sides who went out to lower-league opponents.

But then, we could look at this as an opportunity to progress and enjoy a cup run, which will no doubt eventually be ruined by one of the big six. But it will allow Parker to experiment and that's what we expect will happen.

You never know, we have had many players who have played their first games in this competition and shone before then making progress at the club.

Let's hope therefore that we can get through unscathed, undamaged and with some surprises and options to give Scott Parker a selection headache for Saturday.

It's another busy week of commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, with live coverage of games across the Premier League and Carabao Cup.

Tuesday, 23 August

• Fleetwood v Everton (19:45)

Wednesday, 24 August

• Tranmere v Newcastle (19:45, Sports Extra)

Saturday, 27 August

• Liverpool v Bournemouth (15:00)

• Arsenal v Fulham (17:30)

Sunday, 28 August

• Aston Villa v West Ham (14:00)

• Wolves v Newcastle (14:00, online only)

• Nottingham Forest v Tottenham (16:30)

All times BST

Image source, Getty Images

David Brooks says signing a contract extension with Bournemouth is "the icing on the cake" after a difficult year.

The Wales midfielder has committed his future to the Cherries and will stay with the club until June 2026.

The 25-year-old was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin Lymphoma in October 2021. He announced he was cancer free in May following successful treatment and recently returned to training.

After signing the extension, he told the club website:, external "I am so pleased to have signed this deal and am looking forward to the next few years with this great club.

"Of course, the last year has been extremely difficult for myself, my family and friends, but I’m now in a position to resume my career - and getting this deal over the line is the icing on the cake.

"I am working hard alongside the excellent coaching team at AFC Bournemouth and am hoping to be back on the pitch soon.

"In the meantime, I’ll be supporting the lads every step of the way."

Image source, Reuters

Scott Parker is pleased to have another game so quickly after Saturday’s defeat by Arsenal as he takes his Bournemouth side to Norwich City in the Carabao Cup.

The Cherries were two down inside 10 minutes to the Premier League leaders and Parker is hoping his players will bounce back against one of the sides relegated from the top flight last season.

“The [games] come thick and fast,” he said.

“As disappointing as the result has been, and as disappointing as the first half was, it has been very good for us and for me in terms of learning and improving.

“We look forward to getting back out there and trying to produce a performance [against Norwich].”

Bournemouth faced the Canaries at the same stage last season and were humbled 6-0 at Carrow Road.

Even though Parker is likely to freshen his side, he knows another defeat would be damaging before Saturday’s trip to Liverpool.

Watch all the highlights from Saturday's six matches in the Premier League on BBC iPlayer here.

And if you missed Match of the Day 2 with Mark Chapman on Sunday, it's right here.

Image source, Getty Images

Glenn Murray believes his former side need to keep their mentality strong during a tough run of fixtures at the start of the season.

Bournemouth won their opening game against Aston Villa but were well beaten by Manchester City and Arsenal - and it's Liverpool next.

"It's been some welcome back to the Premier League," Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"When you come up against Arsenal, City and Liverpool you know you're not going to get much when you're newly promoted.

"It's about putting these games to bed and not dwelling on bad results. It's about looking forwards, not backwards.

"They were used to winning games last season but will have to have a change of mindset in the Premier League."

More analysis of Saturday's games is available on BBC Sounds

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