Bournemouth v Sunderland: Premier League – live

Early kick-off has not deterred travelling Sunderland fans; some were pictured boarding coaches at midnight for a 1,098-kilometre round trip and arriving at around 8am. Fortified by breakfasts, some bracing southern sea air and liquid refreshments, they will be hoping to see their side end a run of three consecutive league defeats against one of the top flight’s most in-form teams.

Bournemouth are unbeaten in seven matches, winning four, and remain very much in the mix for European qualification. They still entertain faint hopes of finishing fifth — a position that would almost certainly guarantee Champions League football — and a win today would move them within four points of Chelsea and Liverpool in fifth and sixth; a seventh-placed finish ought to secure European football of some kind.

Sunderland sit 12th and a victory would move them within one of the magic 40-point mark. Kick-off at the Vitality Stadium is at 12.30pm (GMT).

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