Bournemouth Reach Highest Premier League Points Total with 3-0 Win Over Brighton

Bournemouth secured a comfortable 3-0 home victory against Brighton on Sunday, reaching their highest-ever Premier League points total of 48 with three games left to play. Goals from Marcos Senesi, Enes Ünal, and Justin Kluivert propelled the Cherries to a dominant win at the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth took the lead in the 13th minute when Senesi headed in from a corner kick. The hosts continued to control the match, and Ünal doubled their advantage seven minutes into the second half with a powerful header from Dango Ouattara's cross. Brighton struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the game, managing just one shot on target.

Kluivert sealed the victory for Bournemouth in the 87th minute with a superb individual effort. The Dutch winger drove at the Brighton defense before scoring with a left-footed finish. The win moves Bournemouth up to 10th place in the Premier League table, surpassing their previous best points total of 46 achieved in the 2016/17 season.

Why this matters: Bournemouth's impressive performance under manager Andoni Iraola has seen them climb from the relegation zone in October to a comfortable mid-table position. The victory also extends Brighton's winless league run to six games, hindering their hopes of securing European qualification.

Bournemouth defender Adam Smith praised the current squad as the most talented the club has had in years, crediting coach Iraola for the team's strong showing this season. "The gaffer has been unbelievable. He's got us playing some great football, and we're all enjoying it," Smith said after the match.

The only downside for Bournemouth was an injury to winger Antoine Semenyo, who had to be taken off on a stretcher following a heavy challenge. The extent of his injury will be assessed in the coming days. Bournemouth's next Premier League fixture is against Arsenal, while Brighton will host Aston Villa as they look to end their winless streak.

Key Takeaways

• Bournemouth beat Brighton 3-0, reaching their highest-ever Premier League points total of 48.
• Goals from Senesi, Ünal, and Kluivert secured a dominant win for Bournemouth at home.
• Bournemouth's impressive performance under Iraola has seen them climb to 10th in the table.
• Bournemouth defender Smith praised Iraola's coaching, crediting him for the team's strong showing.
• Bournemouth's winger Semenyo suffered an injury, with the extent to be assessed in the coming days.