Is Europe dream a reality for Bournemouth?

When Bournemouth stunned Manchester United at Old Trafford last month, their fans were singing about European qualification.

The Cherries have never played continental football, but the dream has every chance of becoming a reality as they continued their impressive form with victory against Everton on Saturday.

The win extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to eight games and means they are seventh in the table, just three points off the top four.

"Nobody really likes coming to play us here and every home game we go into it thinking we can win," Bournemouth's matchwinner against Everton, David Brooks, said.

"We have to just keep our feet on the ground and keep plugging away game by game."

But the battle for European football is wide open, with just four points separating Chelsea in fourth and Aston Villa in eighth - at the same stage last season the gap was nine points.

Since Andoni Iraola was appointed Bournemouth manager in June 2023 the Cherries have only gone from strength to strength, and their statistics under him this season make for impressive reading:

Twelve years ago, Bournemouth were playing in the third tier of English football, but have spent more time during the past decade in the Premier League than out of it.

But rather than just making up the numbers in the top flight, their eyes are firmly set on European football.

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley recently told BBC Sport: "Our goal this year is modest. Can we move to the top eight or nine, maybe even sneak into Europe?

"Our real goal is to play in Europe, to give our players a chance to experience Europe and do it with little Bournemouth."

The big test of their credentials comes in their next few games as they play Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Liverpool - all sides above them in the table.

Not too long ago people were talking about Chelsea as potential title contenders with the Blues having climbed as high as second in the table.

Those within the club continually played that down and perhaps with good reason because, after a run of five Premier League victories in a row, they have failed to win their past four games, losing to Fulham and Ipswich and drawing with Everton and Crystal Palace.

"Two weeks ago, three weeks ago, we were talking about the title race," Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said after Saturday's draw with the Eagles.

"So it's for me, it's not about the table. It's just about seeing how we can improve things."

Fifth place Newcastle made an inconsistent start to the season but appear to be hitting their stride now, with Saturday's win at Tottenham their fifth victory in a row in the Premier League.

Manchester City, who are sixth, are showing signs of coming through their awful run of form after Saturday's win against West Ham made it back-to-back wins in the Premier League.

"We saw in many years our level and we are not at our level. We won, I am so happy and it helps us," City boss Guardiola said after the Hammers win.

"I'm very pleased for the result but you cannot ask me if the old City is back. If you saw the game, we are not."

Eighth-place Aston Villa boosted their Europe aspirations by beating Leicester on Saturday.

In many ways, Unai Emery's side offer inspiration for a club like Bournemouth after they realised their own dream last season by finishing in the top four to secure Champions League football for the current campaign.

"We needed those three points after we drew at home with Brighton and we are challenging to be in the top 10, top eight," Emery said.

"The league is very difficult because a lot of teams are performing very well."