Bournemouth face a tricky test against Premier League leaders, Liverpool, at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth will remain 12th in the table regardless of the result unless can win by seven or more goals to move above Wolves on goal difference, whilst a win would see Liverpool extend their title lead to five points.
Team News
Marcos Senesi is suspended for Bournemouth after he picked up his fifth booking of the league campaign in Bournemouth’s New Year’s Eve defeat at Tottenham, although he was eligible and played in their comeback FA Cup win at QPR a fortnight ago.
Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo are both away on international duty at Africa Cup of Nations.
Lloyd Kelly (hamstring) could return if match fit but Darren Randolph (illness), Adam Smith (unspecified), Milos Kerkez (ankle), Ryan Fredericks (calf) and Tyler Adams (hamstring) remain absent.
Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns after their winter break following the comeback first leg win over Fulham in their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Doak (both knee), Konstantinos Tsimikas, Andrew Robertson (both shoulder), Joel Matip (ACL), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (hip), Dominik Szoboszlai (hamstring), Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah (both international) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Bournemouth host Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium in a 4:30pm GMT kick-off on Sunday 21 January, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Bournemouth have taken seven points from their last 13 league meetings against Liverpool (W2, D1, L10).
- Liverpool have won four of their last six league visits to Bournemouth (W4, L2).
- Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have kept clean sheets in three of their last four visits to Bournemouth (W3, L1).
- Five of Dominic Solanke’s six league goals at home this season were scored after half-time, except for a 17th minute opening goal in a 2-1 home loss to Wolves in October 2023.
- Virgil van Dijk has won more aerial battles than any other Liverpool player this season, with 82 of his 100 aerial battles won in 18 league appearances.
Prediction
With one defeat in their last nine matches in all competitions, Bournemouth should head into this game full of belief amidst their poor form in this fixture, but their defending has to be better than it was at Tottenham and QPR as they were lucky for a comeback win at the latter.
Liverpool meanwhile can open a five-point gap at the top with a win but after having clinically rode their luck in their last two games against Arsenal and Fulham respectively, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will be wary of this in-form Bournemouth team and Dominic Solanke in particular.
I am therefore anticipating another tough scrap but Liverpool surely have to win this sort of game if want to seriously put the pressure back upon their rivals, yet this does feel like a free hit for Bournemouth who are fairly comfortable in mid-table at minute.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool
Result: Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
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