Liverpool look to halt a slide in form as they welcome relegation battling Bournemouth to Anfield.
A win will see Liverpool open up a 25 point lead over Man City, whilst Bournemouth can temporarily move out of the relegation zone with at least one point.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesNaby Keita is expected to return for Liverpool after missing their last two matches with a hip injury.
Jordan Henderson (hamstring) is expected to return next weekend against Everton, whilst Xherdan Shaqiri (calf), Yasser Larouci (hamstring) and Nathaniel Clyne (knee) remain sidelined.
Bournemouth will be without Harry Wilson who is ineligble to face his parent club as per terms of his loan deal.
Lloyd Kelly however could return from a thigh injury but Charlie Daniels, Chris Mepham (both knee), David Brooks (ankle) and Arnaut Danjuma (foot) remain out.
Form
Liverpool enter this match with just one win in their last four games across all competitions (W1, L3), scoring three and conceding eight across those outings.
Bournemouth head to Anfield with seven points from their last five games (W2, D1, L2), whilst scoring in four of those five matches.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six league meetings against Bournemouth (W5, D1).
- Bournemouth have never won in seven previous trips to Anfield in all competitions (D1, L6).
- Liverpool have kept clean sheets in their last five matches against Bournemouth, having previously kept just two clean sheets in their four clashes beforehand.
- Neither team are yet to pick up a red card in this Premier League fixture.
- No goalkeeper outside of the current top two teams (Liverpool & Manchester City) has seen a red card yet this season.
Prediction
With a tough task against Atletico Madrid to come on Wednesday, Liverpool really need a great performance here because their defending in recent weeks have been quite passive with untypical mistakes creeping in.
Bournemouth however has shown a stronger attacking intent in the past month, so will be a tough team to dominate if they can quickly impose their pressing gameplay even if their defending is still a concern.
I therefore am expecting a closer game than recent meetings but being at home, Liverpool should just about pull through with a win.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth
Result: Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth