Stripped Cherries not ripe for opener

BOURNEMOUTH head coach Andoni Iraola admits his squad are “not where we want to be” before tonight's opening Premier League match of the season at champions Liverpool.

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The Cherries have seen seven players depart permanently this summer - including key defenders Demarai Gray, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi, to a combined £147million - while four have arrived in permanent deals.

Spaniard Iraola, who guided Bournemouth to their joint highest-placed topflight finish of ninth last season, said: “We are not where we want to be, but there have been a lot of changes and when the transfer market ends there will have been some important movements.