In a stunning turn of events, Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert outshone his father's legacy at St James' Park, netting a remarkable hat-trick in a commanding 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. The win not only extended the Cherries' club-record unbeaten Premier League run but also propelled them to sixth place, just one point behind their defeated opponents.
The 1,700 Bournemouth supporters who made the long journey north were rewarded with a performance that defied expectations. Despite missing key players through injury, including Marcos Senesi, Marcus Tavernier, Luis Sinisterra, Evanilson, and Enes Unal, Andoni Iraola's team dismantled a Newcastle side that had won nine consecutive matches across all competitions.
"I heard I had more goals than him here already, so that is one win over him," the 25-year-old Kluivert told BBC Match of the Day, referring to his father Patrick's single goal at St James' Park during the 2004-05 season. "I followed Newcastle when I was younger - unfortunately for them, Kluivert now plays for another team."
The victory showcases Bournemouth's remarkable transformation under Iraola's leadership. Since his first win as manager, the team has accumulated 82 points from 51 games, the seventh-best record among Premier League clubs, surpassing both Manchester United and Tottenham. Their aggressive high-pressing style has become a hallmark of their play, with the team leading the league in winning possession in the opponent's third with 141 occasions.
"It's controlled chaos," explained midfielder Tyler Adams. "We want to make the game as chaotic as possible, but controlled for us. We're running all over the place, but you have to trust and be smart because we know we can leave ourselves vulnerable."
The statistics support Bournemouth's impressive form. They've won four of their last six Premier League away games, accumulating more points on their travels (14) than any other team since November 30. The team has also made history by scoring multiple goals in seven consecutive away league games for the first time.
Kluivert's performance particularly stands out. His hat-trick, all from open play, adds to his remarkable season tally of 11 goals in 23 appearances across all competitions. This follows his historic November achievement of becoming the first player to score a hat-trick of penalties in a Premier League match against Wolves.
"He's unbelievable," Adams, who previously played with Kluivert at Leipzig, praised. "He's found a very good home here. I know what he can do in attack, but he has done an unbelievable job defensively. He's such a creative player and dictates the play for us. He's just warming up."
Former West Ham, Chelsea, and Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole told TNT Sports, "Bournemouth are right up there now. I think they'll be challenging for Europe. Their front four tore Newcastle apart."
With their current form and tactical prowess, evidenced by ranking first in distance covered and second in both number of sprints and direct speed of attacks, Bournemouth's European aspirations seem increasingly realistic. As Kluivert himself stated, "We can dream big. We can go very far. A result like this just feels amazing. It's the best feeling in the world. We trust in each other and believe in each other. I think that's the spirit in our team."
