CHERRIES end their run of four home games by welcoming Crystal Palace to Vitality Stadium this evening (7.45pm) – but who will start?

It is two games in four days for Andoni Iraola’s charges, and the Basque boss is fully aware that the will need to make alterations to the side 2-1 winners over Everton at the weekend.

We have taken a go at guessing who will start tonight.

 

Goalkeeper

Bournemouth Echo: Cherries defeated Everton 2-1 at Vitality Stadium

Scrutiny has once again increased over captain Neto over his performance in between the sticks.

With Cherries looking comfortable against Everton, the experience goalkeeper went up to claim a difficult, swirling cross.

After seemingly doing the hard part and claiming the ball, Neto proceeded to spill the cross onto defender Chris Mepham, allowing Everton striker Beto to stroke home into an empty net.

It is not the first time questions have been asked about Cherries’ number one, but it does not appear that Andoni Iraola is moved by calls to give Mark Travers a chance.

Iraola has deemed Neto his first choice this campaign, and it seems unlikely that will change – at the moment.

Defence

Marcos Senesi will unfortunately miss out again, but perhaps that is not too big a miss for Cherries at the moment.

As discussed prior to the Everton game, Iraola has options in the full-back positions for the first time in a while.

After a scare over a calf issue, Milos Kerkez appeared fine in his hour-or-so on the pitch on Saturday, whilst Max Aarons was an unused substitute on his return to injury.

Adam Smith has played through the pain barrier this season, so asking him to play another 90 minutes in the span of four days is not a tall ask in comparison.

However, the luxury of having options will not be wasted on Iraola.

Lloyd Kelly’s impact was instant off the bench but the left-back has only a week of training under his belt.

Of course, Kelly could come in as a centre-half, but Illia Zabarnyi and Chris Mepham appear to have come to a good understanding in the absence of Senesi.

We’re predicting that Aarons and Kelly come in from the start as Iraola rejigs his backline based on fitness levels.

Midfield

Bournemouth Echo: Cherries defeated Everton 2-1 at Vitality Stadium

You probably wouldn’t have been able to have guessed that Tyler Adams had been out for so long based on the American’s work rate throughout Saturday’s game, the midfielder completing his first full 90 minutes as a Cherry.

However, with how careful both Cherries and the United States national team have been in regards to Adams’ minutes, it seems almost ludicrous to suggest that he will start again.

Ryan Christie’s knock that was picked up on international duty with Scotland is not too serious, so it seems likely the Scot will return to partner Lewis Cook in the middle of the park.

Justin Kluivert’s performance could probably be best described as scrappy, the Dutchman chasing anything that moved and nipping at the heels of many Everton players – as evidenced by four fouls in 70-odd minutes, the most of any player on the pitch.

With Iraola’s comments about rotation in mind, it would not be a surprise to see either one of Philip Billing or Alex Scott from the off.

Danish international Billing came on as a sub to replace Kluivert, but we’re opting for Scott to start.

Attackers

Bournemouth Echo: Antoine Semenyo continued doing what he does best against Everton; the Ghanaian a constant threat as he repeatedly fired off first-time shots.

With Sinisterra still out, guessing the winger positions becomes slightly easier. Marcus Tavernier is still not back to his best but is still contributing more than enough to still get the nod.

If Kluivert does not start as the 10, there could be the temptation to play him as a winger.

Dango Ouattara is another option, but with the Burkinabe fasting for Ramadan, the thought might be to use him as a substitute due to his energy levels.

Earlier on in the season Iraola was almost clockwork with his substitutions during games, taking off the wingers at around the hour mark to bring on fresher legs to run at defences.

We’re predicting that Tavernier and Semenyo will start, but expect Iraola to turn to his bench for added impetus midway through the second period.

There is not much else that can be said about Dominic Solanke at the moment.

Debate over his inclusion in the England squad will rumble until the summer, as it should with his goal-scoring form.

There will certainly be no debate over his inclusion in a Cherries team for the foreseeable.

Predicted XI: Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Mepham, Kelly; Cook, Christie, Scott; Semenyo, Tavernier, Solanke.

What is your predicted XI for tonight's game? Let us know down below in the comments.