Bournemouth vs Fulham Prediction and Betting Tips for Friday’s Premier League fixture at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries are looking to stay in the European mix, while Fulham arrive hoping to snap their poor away form. In this piece, you’ll find Premier League Stats breakdowns and expert insights from XpertStats.

• Bournemouth aim to extend their solid home form at the Vitality Stadium.
• Fulham struggle away from home, losing twice on the road this season.
• Both sides average more than 24 fouls per game combined.
• Set pieces have been crucial for Bournemouth in recent weeks.

Bournemouth’s rise under Andoni Iraola has been one of the season’s more under-the-radar stories. Sitting sixth with 11 points, just four behind leaders Liverpool, the Cherries have been rock-solid defensively. They’ve only conceded seven goals all season, and four of those came in a single game against Liverpool back in August. Even so, goals haven’t flowed from open play, with three of their last strikes coming from set pieces. Fans might worry about creativity, but at the same time, keeping opponents quiet is proving to be their strongest weapon.

The Vitality Stadium has become a bit of a fortress. Bournemouth have only lost once in their last seven home Premier League matches, picking up four wins and keeping four clean sheets. Still, their 2-2 draw against Leeds last weekend showed vulnerability, with just 0.39 xG created from open play. Can they find that extra spark going forward? That’s the question Iraola needs answered if his side are to keep pace with the league’s elite.

For Fulham, the story feels different. Marco Silva’s men looked sharp in patches but fell 3-1 to Aston Villa last Sunday despite taking the lead. Their defensive record is strange, only 59 shots faced all season, yet they’ve conceded an average of two goals per match. Away from Craven Cottage, things get even messier: no wins in three, two losses, and a continuation of last season’s poor traveling form. Without Raul Jimenez, who’s still being assessed after knee issues, the Cottagers may lack cutting edge up front.

Even so, Fulham shouldn’t be written off. They’ve netted in most of their recent clashes with Bournemouth, and at least three goals have been scored in four of their last meetings. Players like Adama Traore and Alex Iwobi can cause problems if given space. But Bournemouth’s discipline and consistency at home tilt the balance. With both teams committing plenty of fouls, Bournemouth averaging 24 per match and Fulham 27.33, the game could easily turn scrappy. And when it does, those bold set-piece routines might again prove decisive. When looking at Premier League Stats, this one feels like a battle of Bournemouth’s structure against Fulham’s flashes of chaos.