Two teams in completely different moods will cross paths at Vitality Stadium: Bournemouth wants to bounce back after two clear defeats and consolidate its 9th place in the table, while West Ham, despite being in 18th place and facing relegation worries, arrives with the confidence of two wins. The recent head-to-head record favors the visitors, as Bournemouth has failed to win any of the last five encounters, with West Ham coming out on top in this series. If you want to factor this into your prediction and perhaps place a bet on the game right away
In sporting terms, a lot depends on the availability of key players. For Bournemouth, Antoine Semenyo is the big question mark with his ankle ligament injury, and his absence would significantly limit the offensive options. Coach Andoni Iraola relies on flat, possession-oriented build-up play and quick switches of play anyway, but without Semenyo, the focus is likely to be even more on crosses from deeper zones and combinations involving Dominik Solanke and other central attacking players. Defensively, Bournemouth remain vulnerable in transition situations. Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham usually play compactly, waiting for counterattacks and exploiting the physicality of Callum Wilson, who is in good form and poses a threat especially from set pieces. However, the absence of Lucas Paquetá, which reduces creativity in build-up play, is worth noting.
Antoine Semenyo, if fit, and Dominik Solanke are the key players for Bournemouth. For West Ham, Callum Wilson and, if selected, Jarrod Bowen are the offensive focal points, while defensively, Michael Zouma and communication in the back four will be crucial, depending on the exact line-up. Home advantage initially favors Bournemouth, while the league table and head-to-head record favor West Ham. Historically, most goals in this fixture have been scored in the second half, with the first 45 minutes often low on goals. Overall, a close game with chances at both ends is to be expected, with a 1-1 draw or a narrow away win for West Ham with scores such as 0-1 or 1-2 seeming realistic. If Semenyo is out, the probability of an away win or a draw increases slightly. Under or over bets on the number of goals in the second half seem interesting, while caution is advised with handicap bets if the personnel situation is uncertain.
- Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
- Date and time: November 22, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 12)
From a betting perspective, Bournemouth goes into this Premier League clash as clear favorites. Bookmakers are pricing a home win at around 1.6, but form and personnel suggest a more open encounter. In 4 of Bournemouth’s last 5 games, there have been over 2.5 goals, while West Ham has conceded at least one goal in each of its last 5 games, and each time in the first half. Both teams have been scoring regularly lately, so over 2.5 goals and both teams to score: yes seem like logical options. —
Bournemouth’s clear defeats, 1-3 at Man City and 0-4 at Aston Villa, highlight defensive problems, but the team has still been dangerous in attack for the most part. However, the possible absence of Antoine Semenyo with a torn ligament could disrupt the offensive rhythm. West Ham comes into the game on the back of two 3-1 wins, but remains vulnerable defensively and will have to do without the suspended Lucas Paquetá, which will affect the creative balance in midfield. —
This results in a number of betting recommendations with varying degrees of risk. The main tip is over 2.5 goals, based on the goal trend of both teams and mostly attractive odds, with the risk assessed as medium. In addition, both teams to score: yes seems plausible, as both West Ham and Bournemouth are bold offensively, and here too the risk is medium. A value bet with higher odds is Double Chance 2/X, i.e., a draw or an away win, based on West Ham’s recent form, Bournemouth’s uncertainty, and personnel questions. The risk is higher, but the value can be interesting.
Bournemouth Form & Record Check
Bournemouth is in a delicate phase after clear away defeats of 1-3 at Man City and 0-4 at Aston Villa, with the defense in particular looking shaky. In both games, the team conceded at least three goals, a pattern that has been seen frequently in recent weeks and explains the negative goal difference of minus 1.
It is striking that Bournemouth’s last five league games have all been high-scoring. In each of these games, more than 1.5 goals were scored, and in four of them, more than 3.5. Bournemouth regularly scores goals, but at the same time, the team conceded goals in four of the five games, which speaks for a good offense but a lack of stability in defense.
At the same time, home strength remains an important factor. The 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest, the spectacular 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace with a lot of fighting spirit, and the 3-1 win against Fulham show what this team is capable of, especially at Vitality Stadium.
However, there are big question marks over the squad. Antoine Semenyo returned from international duty with a ligament injury in his ankle and, with six goals and three assists in 11 league games, he is currently the most important offensive player. In addition, Justin Kluivert, Adam Smith with a head injury, and Julio Soler are out after international duty. Without Semenyo and with further absences, Andoni Iraola will probably have to make tactical adjustments and fall back on less familiar options. Bournemouth remain dangerous up front, but urgently need more defensive stability in order to score consistently against stronger opponents, especially away from home.
Bournemouth are likely to start with their usual 4-2-3-1 system. Justin Kluivert is unavailable due to injury, which will mainly affect the attacking midfield.
Antoine Semenyo is doubtful after suffering a ligament injury to his ankle while playing for the Ghanaian national team, which led to his premature return from Japan. His participation will have a decisive influence on the exact offensive line-up.
If Semenyo is fit, Andoni Iraola is likely to field Evanilson as center forward in front of an attacking trio of Semenyo, Christie, and Tavernier, with Adams and Scott expected to play in defensive midfield. Araujo, Milosavljevic, Senesi, and Truffert are predicted to form the back four. If Semenyo is unavailable, Brooks or Adli are likely to come into the team as alternatives.
West Ham Form & Record Check
West Ham are deep in the relegation battle and are in 18th place with 10 points. The two recent home wins against Newcastle (3-1) and Burnley (3-2) have provided some momentum, but they do not change the precarious position in the table, with the team level on points with 17th and just one point ahead of the bottom club.
The central problem remains the defense. Under coach Nuno Espírito Santo, West Ham has conceded goals in almost every league game, with at least one goal in each of the last five games. It is striking that the team often falls behind in the first half, which points to weaknesses in build-up play, pressing behavior, and mental preparation before kick-off.
Added to this is a significant discrepancy between home and away performances. The most recent successes have only been at home, with away defeats at Leeds (1-2), Brentford (0-2), and Arsenal (0-2). These results underscore the team’s vulnerability away from home and tactical problems against teams with stronger pressing and controlled possession.
Personnel issues are further exacerbating the difficulties. Lucas Paquetá, the creative playmaker in midfield, is suspended, and his absence is hitting the offensive build-up particularly hard. Freddie Potts showed his potential with a strong performance against Newcastle and was named Man of the Match, but he is questionable due to a thigh injury. These bottlenecks are disrupting the already delicate balance between offense and defense.
In the short term, West Ham needs clear priorities. More stability in defense with a more compact formation, defensively secure fullbacks, and clear assignments, better organization in set pieces, especially corners and free kicks, and a focused match plan for the first 15 minutes with secure build-up play and reduced risks would help. At the same time, rotation and contingency plans for Paquetá’s absence must be put in place, with clearly defined tasks for the substitutes and coordinated, ball-oriented running patterns. In the medium term, reinforcements in defense, such as an experienced center back or a stable defensive midfielder, as well as a greater focus on fitness and intensity training would be useful. The transfer and development strategy should also be geared towards having a resilient plan B in case creative players are unavailable. Despite the two home wins, West Ham remain vulnerable. Without rapid stabilization of the defense and a clear replacement plan for Paquetá, they risk losing more points, especially away from home.
West Ham are expected to line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation. Lucas Paquetá is suspended, so Fernandes is likely to move into central midfield to form a trio with Souček and Rodríguez.
Bowen, Wilson, and Summerville are expected to provide the attacking threat. The expected back four consists of Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, and Diouf.
Bournemouth – West Ham Head-to-Head & Statistics
In the last five direct duels between Bournemouth and West Ham, Bournemouth failed to win, West Ham won two of these games, and three encounters ended in a draw. West Ham scored at least once in all five games, while Bournemouth conceded at least one goal in each of these duels.
Looking at the distribution of goals and the first-half performance, a clear pattern emerges. Before the break, there were never more than 1.5 goals in these five games, so the first halves were mostly low-scoring. West Ham usually showed their greater attacking power after the break, scoring at least one goal in the second half in all five games.
Overall, three of the last five matches have had fewer than 2.5 goals, indicating a tendency toward defensive and close games, even though West Ham has scored reliably. Statistically, this suggests few goals in the first half of the upcoming match, with a realistic option of under 1.5 goals in the first 45 minutes and a more active phase after the break, in which West Ham will be more offensive. It is by no means impossible that both teams will score, but a final score of under 2.5 goals seems entirely possible.
This record is based solely on the last five direct encounters and should always be considered in light of current form, injuries, and lineups. Historical trends provide valuable insights, but they are no substitute for fresh matchday analysis with a view to the immediate present.
