Prediction: Bournemouth vs Liverpool

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Liverpool, with the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table, face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Both teams have had a two-week break following their respective successes in the FA Cup third round, with Liverpool defeating Arsenal 2-0 and Bournemouth staging a thrilling comeback to beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth went through an incredible seven-game run during the festive period, taking 19 points from the possible 21 in that time. The marvelous streak was finally stopped by Tottenham Hotspur, who beat Andoni Iraola’s men by 3-1 on New Year’s Eve.

Despite the setback, Bournemouth quickly bounced back with a thrilling comeback against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup, winning 3-2. They now aim to avoid consecutive Premier League losses when they face Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium, currently sitting in 12th place in the standings.

However, historically, Bournemouth have struggled against teams starting the day at the top of the table, losing their last nine Premier League encounters against such opponents.

Earlier this season, the Cherries took an unexpected lead at Anfield through Antoine Semenyo in the third minute, only to see it overturned by Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah by halftime. Despite the Merseysiders ending the match with 10 men after Alexis Mac Allister received a straight red card (subsequently overturned) in the 58th minute, Bournemouth conceded again just four minutes later, courtesy of Diogo Jota.

Team News

Bournemouth will be without center-back Marcos Senesi for the clash against Liverpool, as he received his fifth yellow card of the league campaign during the match against Spurs. Chris Mepham is expected to fill in.

Injured players Lloyd Kelly, Tyler Adams, Ryan Fredericks, and Darren Randolph will also miss the game. Additionally, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo are unavailable due to international commitments.

Left-back Milos Kerkez, recovering from an ankle issue, is likely to be available. Joe Rothwell and Hamed Traore have departed on loan to Southampton and Napoli, respectively.

Liverpool

Bournemouth may have drawn inspiration from Liverpool’s comeback playbook during their match against QPR. While Jurgen Klopp’s team didn’t need a comeback against Arsenal in the FA Cup, they faced a tough challenge once more in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham. Virgil van Dijk’s unusual error led to Willian’s opening goal, but the tide turned in Liverpool’s favor with the introductions of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo. Nunez assisted Curtis Jones’s deflected equalizer and set up Gakpo for the winning goal.

Liverpool, reveling in consecutive knockout successes, will end their 20-day Premier League break this weekend, returning to action after their 4-2 victory over Newcastle United on New Year’s Day. With Aston Villa and Manchester City not playing this weekend, a win for Klopp’s team would temporarily put them five points ahead in the rankings. Their current four-match winning streak in all competitions began after a 1-1 draw with Arsenal on December 23, a result deemed unjust by Howard Webb, who admitted Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty that day.

Liverpool have triumphed in each of their last three Premier League away games, avenging last year’s 1-0 loss to Bournemouth with a 3-1 win at Anfield in August and a 2-1 Carabao Cup victory on the South Coast just last month.

Team News

While Bournemouth may see the return of a left-back in Kerkez, Liverpool face a big challenge with the absence of both senior options on that side – Andrew Robertson (shoulder) and Kostas Tsimikas (collarbone). Additionally, right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to miss a few weeks due to a knee issue sustained in the FA Cup against Arsenal.

Further compounding Liverpool’s injury concerns are Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Ben Doak (knee), Thiago Alcantara (hip), and Joel Matip (knee). The team will also need to make do without Wataru Endo from Japan and Mohamed Salah from Egypt, the latter experiencing a concerning injury scare in the recent Africa Cup of Nations clash with Ghana.

Klopp holds little optimism for the return of Dominik Szoboszlai (thigh) in Sunday’s game, while Conor Bradley seems poised for his full Premier League debut at right-back.

Conclusion

Bournemouth’s dismal track record against Premier League leaders is cause for concern, but Iraola’s goal-scoring team should not be underestimated, especially facing an injury-plagued Liverpool, particularly vulnerable in the wide areas currently.

Nevertheless, Klopp’s team has showcased resilience throughout the season, excelling in overcoming challenges. With Bournemouth displaying some defensive vulnerabilities as well, there is confidence that Liverpool can secure a fifth consecutive victory and extend their lead at the top to five points upon their return to Merseyside.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Olympusbet