Bournemouth vs Liverpool Match Preview (1 Viewer)

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Liverpool face one of their toughest Premier League tests yet as they head south to Bournemouth for a thrilling Saturday afternoon clash. With Arne Slot's team coming off a 3-2 Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven, they will be looking to bounce back as they return to domestic duties. Meanwhile, Bournemouth are riding high after a dominant 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in their last outing.

Liverpool, fresh off a 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town last weekend, have been in top form in the Premier League. The win marked another milestone for Mohamed Salah, who surpassed Arsenal legend Thierry Henry on the all-time Premier League scoring list.

The Reds remain six points clear of Arsenal at the top, with a game in hand, which will be played against Everton in a few weeks at Goodison Park. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 18 league games, the longest current streak in the division, and have yet to lose away this season – a record no other team can match.

However, Bournemouth will be no pushovers. Despite losing key forwards Evanilson and Enes Unal to injury, Andoni Iraola's team has defied the odds with a string of impressive performances. Their 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest was a standout, with Dango Ouattara netting a hat-trick and Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo also getting on the scoresheet.

Bournemouth have been unbeaten in their last 12 games across all competitions, including 11 consecutive Premier League matches, and their recent form has propelled them into the mix for European football, sitting just one point behind Manchester City in the top four.

With the Cherries hoping to extend their unbeaten run and secure a fourth consecutive clean sheet at home, Liverpool will need to be at their best. The Reds have won the last four encounters between the two sides, including a comfortable 3-0 victory at Anfield in September, but they will approach this one with more caution than in previous seasons. Bournemouth’s form at home, particularly their recent 4-1 victory over Newcastle, shows they are more than capable of pulling off an upset.

As Liverpool continue their quest for the Premier League title, they will face a determined Bournemouth side eager to keep their momentum going. It promises to be an exciting and unpredictable match on the South Coast.

INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Before their trip to the Netherlands, Liverpool welcomed back long-time defender Joe Gomez to full training following a hamstring injury he picked up last month, so he could be in line to make his first appearance of 2025 in this match. Diogo Jota (muscle issue) and Darwin Nunez (illness) are in a similar situation, while Curtis Jones' availability is uncertain due to a recent knock. Despite these concerns, manager Arne Slot might still decide to rest some of his key players after prioritizing this upcoming game.

Mohamed Salah, one of the established stars expected to return to the starting lineup, is closing in on another milestone. His next Premier League goal will see him tie with Frank Lampard on the all-time scoring list. However, after scoring in each of his first six games against Bournemouth, Salah has only managed one goal in his last five encounters with them.

As for Bournemouth, they are still without Evanilson (foot) and Unal (knee) for the long haul. Marcos Senesi, James Hill, and Julian Araujo are also sidelined with thigh injuries, while new signing Julio Soler is away on international duty. The good news is that Alex Scott (knee), Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), and Adam Smith (unspecified) are nearing comebacks, with Sinisterra potentially fit for the match against Liverpool.

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola will likely stick with the same winning formula after last weekend’s impressive performance. Tyler Adams played a key role, registering two assists from midfield, and Bournemouth have averaged 2.8 goals per game this season when he starts, compared to just 1.3 goals when he doesn't. Given their recent success, Iraola will have little reason to make major changes to his starting lineup for the Reds' visit.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz

EXPERT PREDICTION
Bournemouth 2-3 Liverpool

While Liverpool's key players are well-rested after being given a break midweek, Bournemouth have also had six days of uninterrupted preparation for this weekend's highly anticipated match. Iraola's team will certainly be a force to be reckoned with.

That said, the injury-plagued hosts are still short on quality options to bring off the bench, whereas Liverpool have no such concerns. Substitutions could very well play a crucial role for the Reds once again, potentially helping them put an end to Bournemouth's impressive run.
 

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