Given what has happened in their recent run of results, Liverpool are probably getting the right opponent at exactly the right time. The Reds had to settle for only a single point in their last two league fixtures, and with Manchester City seemingly now back in top form, they have temporarily relinquished their lead in the title race via tiebreaker.
Because they have a game in hand now on City, Liverpool can get the top spot back with another draw on Saturday at home versus AFC Bournemouth, but they really need a win here to ease the concerns of the base. The Cherries, on paper at least, provide the perfect foil for doing so.
Liverpool have won five of the previous Premier League meetings against the south coast club, with one draw and one loss. The Reds have been especially dominant in the past three meetings, running up an 11-0 goal differential on aggregate in the three victories, two of which came on the road.
Manager Jurgen Klopp said on Monday night that his side will retain their composure down the stretch here. Let’s take a look at who he might select in his first team as he looks to get another three points.
The Bank Liverpool FC Starting XI Prediction vs AFC Bournemouth (4-3-3)
Forwards: Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah
Midfielders: Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri
Back line: Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, James Milner
Goalkeeper: Alisson
AFC Bournemouth at Liverpool FC FYIs
Kick-off: Saturday February 9, Anfield 3pm (BST), 10am (EST)
Odds via SportPesa: Liverpool 4/19, Draw 23/4, Bournemouth 13/1
Google Result Probability: Liverpool win 80%, Draw 14%, Bournemouth win 6%
Injury Report for both teams: go to this link
Press conference videos, quotes: coming Friday
Prediction: Liverpool 2, Bournemouth 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.