Hello and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE text commentary of the Premier League clash between Bournemouth versus Watford. This is the definition of a 'six-pointer'. With both clubs in 18th and 19th respectively, a place out of the drop zone is the initiative for today's winner. It feels like an eternity since Watford were last out of the bottom three, but only Liverpool and Manchester City won more points at Christmas, while the Cherries have lost their last three league games. Kick-off is 45 minutes away.

Yellow card! Sarr is caught by a rusty challenge from Smith, who is just returning from injury and goes into the book early doors.

There's a flare up between Doucoure and Lerma. Mike Dean steps in to intervene and gives both players a talking to.

Fine save! Free-kick specialist Harry Wilson is over the ball as Bournemouth have a set-piece 25 yards out in a central area. He whips it over the wall and the ball is destined for the top corner, but the in-form Foster is at full stretch to push it behind for a corner.

Chance! Smith scuffs his shot from the edge of the penalty area, it falls into the path of Solanke but the Bournemouth forward can't sort his feet out in time and Foster is off his line bravely to smother the ball.

No penalty! Deeney and Francis grapple with each other as the corner delivery comes in, with both players going to ground. The Watford forward is demanding a penalty but after a quick VAR check play continues.

Watford are asking questions aplenty of the Bournemouth defence in the early stages, as Deeney again slips through Doucoure but this time his shot is deflected for a corner.

Deeney switches the ball to Doucoure on the right and continues his run into the box, but the wideman's cross has too much for everyone in the middle.

The home supporters are making a right noise in the early stages, how will their team respond? The first goal today will be key, you feel.

KICK-OFF! Watford get us underway at the Vitality Stadium.

Five minutes until kick-off and you can already sense a nervous atmosphere on the south coast. This is a huge game for both sides, but who will come out on top?

It's a landmark day for the Cherries, with Howe making his 300th league game as manager, Steve Cook making his 300th league appearance and Ryan Fraser is making his 200th Bournemouth appearance in all competitions. Bournemouth are in free fall and start a Premier League match in the relegation zone for the first time since December 2017. Can they turn it around?

Head-to-head: Seven of the nine top-flight meetings between Bournemouth and Watford have finished level, the highest ratio of any fixture to be played more than twice in the Premier League.

Nigel Pearson: "I've been asked a few times already about whether I had still got enthusiasm, or the drive or whatever or what it is to continue to work and those are the sort of questions that I've asked myself for sure. I wouldn't be here if I firstly didn't think we were capable of getting out of the situation that we're in, but I can't ask people to be committed if I'm not committed myself, so all those things are very important to me and I think this club has got a really strong identity and there's potential for us to rediscover what we are as a football club."

Eddie Howe: "Teams used to really fear coming here, a tight ground and a great atmosphere. We now need that feeling back, which we can only create as a team. We've had good battles with Watford and I imagine this game will be tight again - our motivation levels have to be higher than theirs."

A look at today's transfer news...

Nigel Pearson makes two changes to the Watford side that thrashed Aston Villa on New Year's Day. Adam Masina and Adrian Mariappa come in for the injured Kiko Femenia and suspended Christian Kabasele.

Mark Travers makes his first Premier League appearance of the season for Bournemouth as Aaron Ramsdale is injured. In total, Eddie Howe makes four changes to the side that lost 4-0 to West Ham last time out. Nathan Ake, Ryan Fraser and Adam Smith come into the side.

TEAM NEWS - Bournemouth XI: Travers, Francis, S Cook, Ake, Smith, Lerma, Gosling, H Wilson, Fraser, Solanke.. subs: Boruc, Surman, L Cook, Rico, Simpson, Billing, Surridge /// Watford XI: Foster, Mariappa, Dawson, Cathcart, Masina, Chalobah, Capoue, Doucoure, Sarr, Deulofeu, Deeney.. subs: Gomes, Gray, Quina, Success, Dele-Bashiru, Holebas, Pereyra.