Ronald Koeman has spoken of how the game against Aston Villa where he made a rare decision to make wholesale changes to the line up has given hm food for thought, but he will play his best side on Sunday.
The players who came in on Wednesday night performed admirably with Matt Targett, Maya Yoshida, Steven Caulker, Juanmi and Romeu all having decent games.
Ronald Koeman admitted that he is now well aware that there is competition for places, but that will not deter him in playing his best side on Sunday.
"What we saw [on Wednesday] was that we have a lot of competition in our squad, which you like to have as a manager,” said Koeman.
"The best XI will start on Sunday. Tomorrow we have our last training session and then you make the final decision for Sunday.”
However I think that the manager already knows most of what he considers his best side, I expect the normal back four of Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte & Bertrand, in midfield there is scope for change especially in the centre, however I think it will be Tadic, Wanyama, Clasie, Davis & Mane, with of course Pelle up front.
That will leave a very strong bench and the real competition for places will be on there, indeed even taking into account that Shane Long & Jay Rodriguez are both going to be missing through injury, it will still be a bench of six outfield players that would probably be first choice were they in Bournemouth's squad and that probably highlights the difference between the two squads.