Player Ratings: Bournemouth Match Performance
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 6
Left exposed for Bournemouth’s opener and had no chance with the finish. After that, he kept his side alive, springing low to his right to thwart Justin Kluivert and reacting sharply to palm away Daniel Jebbison’s glancing header.
Rico Lewis – 5
Stepped inside from right-back and tried to dictate from midfield, even forcing an early save with a decent strike. The intent was there, the execution wasn’t. His passing and final ball let him down before he was hooked.
Abdukodir Khusanov – 5
Got it wrong at the key moment, mistiming his challenge on Rayan in the build-up to the opener and never recovering his position. That lapse coloured an otherwise unconvincing display.
Ruben Dias – 5
The new captain will not enjoy watching the first goal back. Misjudged the long ball over the top and failed to get anything on it, inviting trouble. Never fully imposed himself defensively.
Josko Gvardiol – 7
Caught in no man’s land for Bournemouth’s goal, neither tight nor covering the space. Then he rewrote his night. As the clock ticked into added time, he arrived in the box with ice-cold composure to sweep in a dramatic winner.
Marc Guehi – 6
Pushed into an unfamiliar holding midfield role and looked like a defender learning on the job. Yet when it mattered, he surged forward and grabbed a late equaliser. With Ayyoub Bouaddi on the way, this midfield experiment may already be nearing its end.
Elliot Anderson – 6
The club-record signing covered huge swathes of ground and repeatedly broke up Bournemouth attacks. Flashes of what he can offer, even if the attacking punch is still to come.
Antoine Semenyo – 5
Pre-season sparkle, regular-season frustration. Worked hard but never stamped his authority on the contest or stretched the defence as he can.
Nico O’Reilly – 5
Given the keys to the No 10 role but rarely unlocked anything. Struggled to find pockets of space or create clear chances and made way on the hour.
Phil Foden – 5
Electric early on, demanding the ball and producing a gorgeous flick to tee up Lewis. Then the influence drained away, his touches fewer, his threat dulled before he was replaced late on.
Erling Haaland – 5
New haircut, same spotlight, very different finishing. Somehow failed to convert from point-blank range in the first half, then lashed over and dragged another effort wide after the break. A rare night when nothing fell for him. Has the cut cost him his edge, or is this just a blip?
Subs
Matheus Nunes (on 56, Lewis) – 5
Slotted into midfield without ever seizing control. Kept things tidy, but left little imprint on the game.
Rayan Cherki (on 62, O’Reilly) – 8
The game’s turning point. Injected imagination and urgency, constantly demanding the ball between the lines. Delivered two assists and suddenly looks impossible to leave out for Friday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
Mateo Kovacic (on 62, Anderson) – 5
Brought experience and calm but didn’t change the tempo. The question lingers: should he have started in midfield instead of Guehi?
Jack Grealish (on 82, Foden) – 5
Arrived late and saw plenty of the ball out wide, yet couldn’t quite unpick a tiring defence.
