Games come thick and fast for league leaders Liverpool as they travel to the south coast to face Bournemouth this week. The Anfield faithful had all to cheer about through the week as the Reds beat noisy neighbours Everton 5-2 at Anfield on Wednesday.
The win keeps them 11 points ahead of defending champions Manchester City in the League table. Confidence seems to be high in the camp as they continue to manage despite difficulties with injuries and a ‘not so good’ defence. Last game week they set a record for their biggest undefeated record in the league for 32 games and losing on Saturday looks highly uncertain.
The home side are on a run of four consecutive defeats and have managed to win just once in the last 9 league games. Liverpool will be resting players ahead of the midweek Champions League game against Red Bull Salzburg.
Rotation is possible for the Reds in attack as the likes of Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri have both proven out to be very good back up options for the Reds.
Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were both rested in the Merseyside Derby and would be raring to have a go at the Cherries defence. The Reds have a chance to increase their lead against rivals Manchester City as they face off with neighbours Manchester United not earlier than Saturday night.
The fixture ended as a 0-4 win for the Reds as Mohamed Salah ran riot with three finely taken goals last season.
PREDICTED LINEUPS:
Nathan Ake had started the season very brightly for the Cherries and has been linked with a move to both Spurs and Manchester City in recent times. Harry Wilson is unavailable to face his parent club and will only be able to watch the match from the stands.
Ryan Fraser hasn’t been able to replicate the form of his last two seasons, but is expected to slot in the left midfield role for Bournemouth. Joshua King, Junior Stanislas and David Brooks are all out for the game.Manager Eddie Howe is walking on thin rope right now and desperately needs a win to calm things in the dressing room.
Predicted Lineups:
Ramsdale, Francis, Mepham, Ake, Rico, Fraser, Lerma, Billing, Danjuma, Solanke, Wilson 4-4-2
Liverpool would welcome back GK Alisson into the starting eleven after missing out on the Merseyside Derby due to a Red Card against Brighton last Saturday.
The Reds still miss Cameroon international Joel Matip and Brazilian Fabinho through injuries and are expected to start skipper Jordan Henderson in the holding midfield role along with Dutch CM Gini Wijnaldum. Virgil Van Dijk, who missed out on the Ballon D’Or by a whisker is set to start in the CB spots with Craot Dejan Lovren. Mo Salah and Bobby Firmino are expected to start with Divock Origi continuing his fine form on the left wing. Jurgen Klopp would prefer his favored 4-3-3.
Predicted Lineups:
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Origi, Firmino, Salah 4-3-3
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth (11329)
English Premier League, Round 16
Time: 15:00 GMT, Saturday.
