Crystal Palace hold Bournemouth
Bournemouth 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Bournemouth extended their unbeaten Premier League run to six games but were left frustrated with a goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace.
Buoyed by a stunning 3-0 victory over Manchester United in their previous outing, the Cherries looked to build on their push for European football. They created the better chances but struggled to find a clinical edge in front of goal.
Andoni Iraola's side came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half when Antoine Semenyo hooked a shot towards goal from a corner, only for Ismaila Sarr to clear off the line. Moments later, Sarr thought he had put Palace ahead after a solo run and finish, but the offside flag denied the visitors.
The game was open and fast-paced, with both teams pressing high and attacking in numbers. Bournemouth had the lion’s share of opportunities and looked more likely to score, but their efforts couldn’t prevent a Boxing Day stalemate.
Despite 18 attempts on goal, only four were on target, leaving the hosts ruing missed chances. Bournemouth's relentless attacking saw them rack up 1.19 expected goals (xG), but they couldn’t find a way past Dean Henderson.
Premier League: 2024/2025 season
Full-back Milos Kerkez was a standout performer, surging down the left flank to ignite promising attacks. Meanwhile, Justin Kluivert’s smart link-up play, Dango Ouattara’s trickery, and Semenyo’s determination kept Palace’s defence on high alert.
Semenyo, however, endured a frustrating afternoon, slicing a shot wide from the edge of the box and sending a powerful late header off-target, missing two golden chances to secure the win.
Substitutes Evanilson and Tyler Adams added fresh impetus in the second half. Brazilian Evanilson, in particular, caused more problems for the Palace defence than the man he replaced, Enes Unal. However, Bournemouth’s dominance in the closing stages ultimately went unrewarded.
The result leaves Bournemouth sitting sixth in the table, a point ahead of an out-of-sorts Manchester City, while Palace remain uncomfortably close to the relegation zone.
