Liverpool FC have temporarily relinquished their position at the top of the table, due to the goal differential tie-breaker, to Manchester City. With a game in hand, the Reds can go back in the penthouse with a result at home against AFC Bournemouth, a side they thrashed earlier in this season in the reverse fixture 4-0.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp asked the media not to feel sorry for his side, as he told reporters his side will not crack from the pressure of the league title race. One statistic going in the favor of Klopp and his side- every team that accrued as many points as they have by the 25 game juncture in Premier League history has gone on to win the title.
Here’s who the Reds won’t have available for the next chapter in the book of their title quest.
Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum are doubts for this one while central defender Dejan Lovren and team captain Jordan Henderson face late fitness tests on the weekend.
Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (named to the UEFA Champions League knockout round roster) is on the comeback trail, but remains out long term. Ditto for defender Joe Gomez, who elected to have surgery this week.
Switching over to the visitors, midfielder Lewis Cook (knee ligament), defender Simon Francis (right knee ACL) and David Brooks (who has the same name as a very underwhelming New York Times columnist and an ankle injury) are all out. Hot commodity in the transfer market Callum Wilson is a doubt due to his knee problem.
Additionally, Cherries defender and Liverpool loanee Nathaniel Clyne is ineligible for this one, as it is against his parent club.
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%
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction: 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.