PHILIP Billing labelled Mousa Dembele as the toughest opponent he has faced in the Premier League, adding: “I felt like I got bullied on the pitch.”

Former Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Belgium midfielder Dembele retired from professional football last year.

Billing was twice in direct midfield competition with Dembele, during top-flight matches between Spurs and Huddersfield Town in 2018.

On both occasions, Billing was on the losing side with the Terriers, Tottenham claiming 2-0 victories.

Asked in an interview with the Premier League who his toughest opponent has been, Cherries star Billing said: “Mousa Dembele - strong, has got everything.

“I think that’s the first time I felt like I got bullied on the pitch, which we don’t want!”

The series of quick-fire questions also saw Billing reveal Adam Smith as the biggest joker in Cherries’ dressing room, while the Dane labelled Kevin De Bruyne as the best player in the Premier League.

Billing, who listed Gambia as his favourite holiday destination, also said he feels he will score “more than five” goals before the end of the season and described Nottingham Forest’s City Ground as his favourite away day “because I tend to score there every time”.