It’s been exactly five years to the day since Bournemouth secured promotion to the Premier League.
Eddie Howe’s side are still in the top flight now and have created some wonderful memories in the process.
A pulsating 4-3 win over West Ham in their first Premier League away match, as well as a 5-0 mauling of Brighton last term will rank highly in the standout memories among Cherries supporters.
There have also been notable victories against the big boys, including a 4-0 win over Chelsea last season and multiple triumphs against 13-time Premier League winners Manchester United.
But what’s Howe’s standout game? Bournemouth‘s fantastic comeback win over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool back in December 2016.
Yes, Liverpool were not as good as they are now but Bournemouth’s win is made all the more remarkable at the fact they were 3-1 down with 75 minutes on the clock.
But goals from Ryan Fraser, Steve Cook and Nathan Ake’s stoppage-time winners saw the Cherries win 4-3.
It’s perhaps no surprise that Howe has picked that match as his favourite in charge of the south coast club but he also revealed just what made it so special.
Howe exclusively told Drivetime: “The reason that’s the one is part of because who we played as they were building up to being the team they are today. I’ve got so much time and respect for Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool team, they’re amazing.
“We didn’t actually play that well today but it was the spirit and the way that we never gave up in a game we were down and out in.
“That’s really been our hallmark. That and the style, the never say die spirit the group has had and if we continue to have enough of that on our journey then hopefully that’ll be enough for us to survive this year.”
Victories like that are things Howe could barely have dreamed of when he was at Bournemouth as a player or when he first took charge of the club in 2008.
Financial struggles threatened the club’s existence at points and Howe reflected on just how far the club has come.
He added: “It’s a journey that I never thought possible. When I was playing for the club in the 90s, I never thought we could get into the Premier League.
“When we started, we weren’t sure where we could go with it but season by season, when we were looking for promotions we managed to achieve them and we’ve managed to stay in the Premier League up to this point. It’s been remarkable really.
“We were always with financial troubles. All through my playing career wages were paid late, we were always one crisis going into another one.
“This has probably been the longest when we’ve been able just to concentrate on the football and the success that’s gone hand in hand with that has been a pleasure to be part of.”
Listen to Eddie Howe’s full interview on Drivetime above!
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