The pressure is mounting on Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers as his team heads to Bournemouth for a Capital One Cup quarter-final clash tonight
Liverpool travel to Championship high-flyers Bournemouth this evening to play the Cherries in the quarter-final of the Capital One Cup.
In seasons gone by this would have been regarded as a game that the Reds probably would have walked, but not this season.
Flying
Bournemouth are currently top of the Championship table and absolutely flying under highly-rated boss Eddie Howe.
The Cherries achieved a midtable finish in the second tier last season, but this season have started campaign like a steam train.
Howe’s team are unbeaten in 12 matches after beating Cardiff 5-3 last time out in the Championship and in the previous round of this competition knocked out Premier League West Brom.
Confidence is definitely high in the Cherries camp and they will see this game as a real opportunity to claim another Premier League scalp this season. This is their first ever appearance in the last eight of the league cup and they will be determined to make a big impact impression.
The Cherries will have to overcome the fact that they have never beaten Liverpool in a competitive match in five attempts, losing three and drawing two. The win over West Brom in the last round was their first ever over a higher ranking team in 17 attempts in the league cup.
Eddie Howe is expected to field his strongest team for the clash, as he looks to gauge where his team is at compared to a top-flight team.
Top scorer Callum Wilson has been rested in previous rounds, but is expected to start this game. Wilson has found the net ten times in the second tier and looks to be the biggest threat to the Reds vulnerable defence.
Struggling
This game is the typical banana skin for a Premier League team, especially one who are not in great shape at the moment. It may have got to the point this season for Liverpool that a Bournemouth win may not be a major shock.
Liverpool have been struggling badly this season and have suffered a terrible week. Last week the Reds went out of the Champions League after drawing against Basel, while at the weekend Brendan Rodgers side suffered a 3-0 defeat at North West rivals Manchester United.
Liverpool are now 11th in the Premier League table and boss Brendan Rodgers is under major pressure to manufacture a turnaround in form. How he is going to do that only he knows, because at the moment the Reds are simply not playing well enough.
They are conceding too many goals and not scoring many, despite the amount of chances created at Old Trafford. It must be worrying for their fans.
Mixed Blessing
This game could be a mixed blessing, as it could go either way. The players could see it as a chance to make it through to the semi-finals of a cup competition and go at it full-tilt.
However if they are complacent and head into this game thinking it will be easy and lose, the teams morale could take a further dent.
Strong
With their recent struggles in the Premier League, Liverpool and boss Brendan Rodgers needs to take the Capital One Cup seriously. The Northern Irishman needs to field the strongest team he can in an effort to get a result, which will in turn left spirits at the club.
A win is a win and Rodgers is in need of a win and for his team to put together some sort of positive run of form. The Reds are closer to the relegation zone than they are challenging for the Premier League title, so the cup competitions could prove their best route to silverware this season.
Betting News
To be fair to the home side the bookmakers may be writing them off, but they are a good team and they may never get a better chance to beat Liverpool than in tonight’s quarter-final clash.
Can Bournemouth defeat Liverpool at Dean Court?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
