Liverpool vs Bournemouth Preview
- Liverpool to win
- Salah to score
Liverpool Seeking Redemption After Shock Defeat
Arne Slot’s impressive 100% winning start as Liverpool manager came to an unexpected halt in their last Premier League outing, with a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest.
The Reds had little time to dwell on that loss, as they found themselves 1-0 down within three minutes against AC Milan in midweek UEFA Champions League action. However, they showed their resilience by staging a comeback to secure a 3-1 victory.
Now, Liverpool will return to Anfield eager to right the wrongs from last week’s league disappointment.
They face the prospect of losing back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since a dismal run of six home defeats between January and March 2021 under Jürgen Klopp.
With this in mind, Liverpool will be pleased to welcome Bournemouth, a side they’ve dominated in recent years.
The Reds have won ten of their last 11 head-to-head encounters (L1) against the Cherries, with a staggering aggregate scoreline of 37-3 in those victories.
Bournemouth’s Struggles and Historic Victory
Bournemouth head to Merseyside in poor form, having won just one of their last eight matches (D2, L5) following a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in their previous league fixture.
That match was notable for the wrong reasons, as it set a Premier League record with 14 yellow cards handed out—the most in a single game in the competition’s history.
However, Andoni Iraola’s side can draw some encouragement from their most recent victory, which came on Merseyside in dramatic fashion.
The Cherries secured a 3-2 win over Everton, despite trailing 2-0 until the 87th minute, making it the latest a team has overturned a two-goal deficit to win in Premier League history.
That said, Bournemouth’s trip to Anfield represents a much tougher challenge, especially given their poor away record against top-four sides. They’ve lost 25 of their last 29 Premier League away games against teams starting the day in the top four (W2, D2).
Key Players to Watch
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Salah has an excellent record against Bournemouth, scoring nine goals in as many head-to-head matches.
He could become just the fourth player to score ten Premier League goals against the Cherries if he finds the net in this match.
Interestingly, none of Salah’s four goals scored at Anfield against Bournemouth have been the opening goal, so he may not strike first but is likely to have an impact later in the game.
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)
Semenyo could be Bournemouth’s danger man if the visitors look to replicate Nottingham Forest’s strategy of keeping things tight before striking late. Four of Semenyo’s last six goals have come after the 80th minute, making him a potential late-game threat for the Cherries.
Liverpool’s Dominance and Bournemouth’s Challenges
- Liverpool’s recent H2H record against Bournemouth: The Reds have won ten of their last 11 Premier League meetings, with an aggregate scoreline of 37-3.
- Bournemouth’s away record against top-four sides: Bournemouth have lost 25 of their last 29 Premier League away games against teams starting the day in the top four (W2, D2).
- Bournemouth’s current form: The Cherries have won just one of their last eight matches (D2, L5).
Conclusion
Liverpool will be eager to bounce back from their unexpected defeat to Nottingham Forest and continue their dominance over Bournemouth.
The Cherries, while capable of pulling off a comeback as seen in their recent win over Everton, face a significantly tougher task at Anfield.
With Liverpool looking to regain momentum, and Bournemouth struggling both in form and against top-four opposition, the hosts are favourites to claim victory.
Prediction: Liverpool to win comfortably, with Mohamed Salah adding to his impressive goal tally against Bournemouth.
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Liverpool v Bournemouth, 2024/25 | Premier League