TEAM NEWS
Bournemouth remains without injured pair Callum Wilson and David Brooks, while Jefferson Lerma’s ankle problem will be assessed. Liverpool trio Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all returned to training after injuries and could be involved against Bournemouth.
Dejan Lovren is not yet ready to play. Dominic Solanke is likely to start against his previous club, but loanee Nathaniel Clyne is ineligible.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
@SteveBowercomm: The race is on and it’s one that the neutral can sit back and enjoy. After one significant result this week on Merseyside, Anfield expects another.
For the first time in almost two months, Liverpool begin the weekend without being on top of the league. As the analysis of the current mood continues, it is worth remembering that Jurgen Klopp’s team have taken 23 points from the last 30 available. Manchester City has recorded 18 in that time.
A team on a run of 33 league games unbeaten at home will look at this as a favourable fixture, given Bournemouth’s seven straight away defeats.
Eddie Howe has questioned his team’s mentality, although it will be Liverpool‘s under far greater scrutiny in this one.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “It’s getting exciting now. The only chance to improve our position, even though it is a good position, is by winning football games.
“I know that with each fibre of our bodies we will be ready to fight for everything.
“The only thing I want to say after the season is we gave our everything.”
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: “It seems a long time ago from our first ever Premier League away game at Anfield.
“We have had some great games with Liverpool. The recent games have been tough, though. We need to be more competitive.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
Liverpool’s biggest problem at the moment is that they are a bit thin on the ground, numbers-wise, especially at the back.
But the Reds are at home and playing a Bournemouth team that are not good defensively.
I am not sure what kind of performance we will see from Eddie Howe’s team, but I would still back Liverpool to win comfortably.
Prediction: 3-0
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Liverpool are unbeaten against Bournemouth at Anfield, registering five wins and a draw in all competitions.
- Bournemouth’s solitary victory in 14 attempts against Liverpool was a 4-3 Premier League triumph at home in December 2016.
Liverpool
- Liverpool are on a club Premier League record run of 33 consecutive home matches without defeat. They have won eight of their past nine league games at Anfield.
- Their tally of 62 points is the second highest in the club’s history after 25 games of a season. They had 63 points at this stage in 1987-88.
- The Reds could score first and fail to win in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time.
- Liverpool have dropped seven points in their last five league fixtures, having only let slip six points in their opening 20 matches this season.
- Mohamed Salah has scored five goals in three league appearances against Bournemouth, including a hat-trick in this season’s reverse fixture.
- The Egyptian has scored 48 times in 61 Premier League games for Liverpool – the record for fewest appearances to reach 50 goals for a single club is 66 by Alan Shearer at Blackburn Rovers.
- Sadio Mane could score in four consecutive Premier League matches in a single season for the first time.
Bournemouth
- The Cherries have lost seven Premier League away games in a row, conceding at least twice in each match. The last top-flight team to lose eight in a row while conceding at least twice were Portsmouth in February 2006.
- Bournemouth could lose eight consecutive league away matches for the first time since December 1983 to March 1984 in the third tier.
- They have conceded 44 goals this season – only the current bottom four sides have a worse defensive record.
- Josh King has scored three goals in his last three Premier League games, as many as he had in his previous 14 appearances.
- Dominic Solanke made 27 appearances for Liverpool, with his only goal for the club coming in the Premier League against Brighton on the final day of last season.
Source: BBC News
