Liverpool face a tricky Premier League test against Bournemouth at Anfield.
Victory by two goals or more could put Liverpool top if Newcastle lose elsewhere, whilst Bournemouth can climb as high as seventh depending upon results elsewhere.
Team News
Alisson is a doubt for Liverpool after he missed training following their midweek Champions League win at AC Milan.
Harvey Elliott (ankle) remains ruled out.
Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola could hand Kepa Arrizabalaga his debut after the Spaniard was ineligible to feature in their 1-0 loss to Chelsea, due to having made a loan switch from the Blues.
Tyler Adams (back) and Dango Ouattara (ankle) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Liverpool host Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday 21 September at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have lost one of their last 11 league meetings against Bournemouth (W9, D1, L1).
- Bournemouth have lost all seven Premier League trips to Liverpool at Anfield (L7).
- Liverpool’s Diogo Jota scored three goals in his two league appearances against Bournemouth last season.
- Antoine Semenyo has scored in each of Bournemouth’s two league games on the road this season.
- Liverpool are looking to avoid suffering back-to-back home defeats for the first time since March 2021.
Prediction
After a below-par loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend, Liverpool certainly hit back with a clinically dominant win at AC Milan but they now need to continue that standard if want to avoid rare back-to-back home defeats in the top-flight.
Bournemouth though were excellent against Chelsea but unlucky in their end product so I do expect a reaction here, yet Anfield is a hoodoo ground for the Cherries so this feels like a free hit even if they opt for the counter-attack like Forest did.
Liverpool though aren’t a team who accepts for consecutive mediocre home performances, so I do see them winning here but Bournemouth should push them a lot if can play like they did last weekend.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth
Result: Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth