MY ACCOUNT
– Bournemouth have lost all seven games against top-five teams, conceding 29 goals
– Liverpool are on a high after thrashing Manchester United 7-0
– Recommended bet: Liverpool to win and over 2.5 goals
Dan Sait correctly predicted Brighton would beat West Ham to zero and Arsenal would win against Bournemouth with over 3.5 goals in total last week.
Now, he casts his eye over Saturday’s early game between the Cherries and Liverpool.
Liverpool enjoyed a dream display against their great rivals when thrashing Manchester United 7-0 last weekend and now get the chance to follow up against the only team they have beaten by a greater margin this season.
Bournemouth initially reacted positively to August’s 9-0 humiliation at Anfield, with Gary O’Neil coming in to galvanise the squad and take them on a six-match unbeaten run.
However, their fortunes have since plummeted, with the Cherries losing 11 of the next 15 games to now sit bottom.
Last weekend’s late defeat to Arsenal was another crushing blow for the struggling side and O’Neil must now find a way to lift his team to face more in-form opponents.
Team news
Bournemouth defender Matias Vina is out with a knee injury and long-term absentee David Brooks is not expected back until the end of the month, while winger Junior Stanislas is also still absent.
Midfielder Marcus Tavernier remains a big doubt and defenders Illia Zabarnyi and Lloyd Kelly are also unlikely to feature.
Central midfielders Jefferson Lerma and Hamed Traore are both expected to miss out with muscular complaints.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz remains out with knee injury and midfielder Thiago Alcantara has been ruled out with a groin complaint.
Centre-back Joe Gomez and midfielders Naby Keita and Arthur Melo each have an outside chance of returning from injury to make the squad.
The stats
Liverpool’s erratic campaign continues with a 13-day spell taking in a home humiliation against Real Madrid, an underwhelming draw at Crystal Palace, the routine defeat of Wolves and glorious victory over Manchester United.
There is a clear difference between their home and away form, with only Arsenal and Manchester City gaining more Premier League home points this season, but 10 teams boast a better away record.
Bournemouth have won only one of their last 12 games in all competitions but played well in defeat to Arsenal and had lost only two of their five previous games — a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Brighton and a 4-1 loss to Manchester City.
Bournemouth have lost only five of their 12 Premier League home games, but their record against the top teams is dismal, losing all seven meetings with the top five, conceding at least three goals on each occasion
Prediction
What Bournemouth lack in quality they almost make up for in fighting spirit and their decent home record does give this clash the faint feel of a potential banana-skin for improving Liverpool.
However, the Cherries’ dreadful results against the top teams suggests they will struggle to get anything from the game, although they are capable of at least giving Liverpool a fright — having netted against Manchester City and Tottenham at the Vitality Stadium this term.
Last weekend’s 7-0 demolition of United has been rightly lauded and the Reds appear to be well on the road to recovery, winning four of their last five league games and recording five clean sheets on the bounce in the top flight.
Another victory for Klopp’s men looks highly probable and it could be another high-scoring encounter with Bournemouth capable of netting against the top teams but unable to stem the flow at the other end.
Back Liverpool to win and over 2.5 goals, available at 1/1 with LiveScore Bet.
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