Liverpool host Bournemouth within the Premier League on Saturday, with the Cherries on the lookout for their first-ever win at Anfield because the Reds look to get again on observe at house.
Liverpool vs. Bournemouth
Premier League (5) | Anfield
September 21, 2024 | 3pm (BST)
Arne Slot‘s aspect bounced again on Tuesday night, profitable 3-1 away to AC Milan, suggesting that the Nottingham Forest defeat was a mere blip.
Liverpool have been wretched at house to the Midlands aspect final weekend, although, and a repeat have to be averted towards Bournemouth.
Right here’s all you have to know forward of the sport.
1. Alisson in critical doubt
Alisson is a serious damage doubt for Saturday’s match, with a hamstring subject threatening to maintain him sidelined. He failed to coach on Friday to depart Caoimhin Kelleher on standby.
Harvey Elliott is Liverpool’s solely different high-profile absentee, with the 21-year-old out till mid-October with a fractured foot.
Jayden Danns continues to nurse a again downside, too.
2. Will Slot shuffle his pack?
Slot solely made two modifications in midweek, with Andy Robertson and Luis Diaz rested, however the pair have each probability of returning on Saturday.
That may seemingly be on the expense of Kostas Tsimikas and Cody Gakpo, though resting both Mohamed Salah or Diogo Jota isn’t out of the query.
There’s additionally an opportunity that Curtis Jones might break up Slot’s first-choice midfield, ought to the boss really feel that one in every of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister or Dominik Szoboszlai want a breather.
Kelleher will deputise for Alisson if he’s out.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Diaz, Jota
3. Nunez will “get his probability”
Darwin Nunez is but to begin a recreation this season, suggesting that Slot doesn’t worth him as a lot as Jurgen Klopp did.
Talking earlier than the sport, nonetheless, Liverpool’s head coach insisted that the Uruguayan would get alternatives to show his value quickly.
“He’ll get his probability within the close to future, we play a number of video games and I believe he’s fitter and fitter now, understands daily higher what we anticipate from him,” mentioned Slot.
Would you give Nunez a go towards Bournemouth?
4. Bournemouth strong below Iraola
The Cherries impressed final season, ending twelfth within the Premier League and barely wanting threatened by relegation.
Andoni Iraola has continued to shine as supervisor this time period, too, not permitting the exit of Dominic Solanke to have an effect on his aspect.
Bournemouth are eleventh after the opening 4 matches, with their solely defeat coming late at house to Chelsea final weekend.
Cherries fan Tom Jordan has instructed This Is Anfield that Iraola is more likely to undertake a “excessive and aggressive press,” which might be very totally different to Forest’s low block.
5. How the guests might lineup
Bournemouth have had the luxurious of getting all week to arrange for Saturday’s match.
Which means Iraola might identify the identical workforce that began towards Chelsea, which would come with Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo and summer season signing Evanilson making up a harmful attacking unit.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is eligible once more after lacking the Chelsea defeat, so he’ll battle Mark Travers for a beginning berth.
Tyler Adams and Dango Ouattara are out injured.
Predicted Bournemouth XI: Travers; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Prepare dinner, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson
6. Addressing Anfield environment issues
Talking to the media on Friday, Slot addressed Anfield’s hushed environment of late, giving a very reasonable evaluation:
“The one factor I can ask the followers is that if we don’t present up sufficient, possibly they will help us and say, ‘okay, it appears to be like prefer it’s not their day, let’s assist them by singing, cheering’, or no matter they’ll give you.
“However I like to take a look at ourselves, we have now to do higher, and if we do higher, I believe the followers will take pleasure in what they see, after which they are going to be behind the workforce.
“It begins with us doing higher tomorrow [vs. Bournemouth], but when we don’t, which I’m not anticipating or hoping for, possibly the followers may give us an additional push by displaying what it wants for us to win the sport.”
7. Bournemouth eyeing historical past at Anfield
Bournemouth are but to win at Anfield of their historical past, albeit having solely performed there 10 instances total.
Final season, they threatened to stun Liverpool after taking an early lead, just for objectives from Diaz, Salah and Jota to earn the hosts a 3-1 victory.
There was additionally a 9-0 win for the Reds in 2022/23, which is the joint-biggest victory in Premier League historical past.
Data are there to be damaged, nonetheless, so Liverpool can not take their opponents as a right. As soon as this season is already sufficient.
8. Do you know?
Salah’s report towards many groups is enviable and Bournemouth have to be sick of the sight of him.
The 32-year-old has scored 9 objectives in as many Premier League appearances towards the Cherries, and he shall be hungry this weekend after not scoring at house to Forest or in Milan.
You definitely wouldn’t again towards him making it an ideal 10 on Saturday.
9. Harrington takes cost
Tony Harrington has been confirmed because the referee for Saturday’s recreation, in what is just his third Liverpool outing in his profession.
Each earlier matches have been within the Carabao Cup, towards Lincoln in 2020/21 and Derby in 2022/23, with the Reds prevailing each instances – 7-2 within the former and on penalties within the latter.
Marc Perry and Derek Eaton are Harrington’s assistants and Bobby Madley is fourth official – Graham Scott is within the VAR sales space, supported by Sian Massey-Ellis.
10. Comply with the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Bournemouth is a 3pm (BST) Saturday kickoff, which implies it’s a part of the blackout and never obtainable to look at reside within the UK.
TIA’s reside weblog is one of the best place to remain up-to-date with what’s occurring at Anfield, with Harry McMullen maintaining you firm from 2.15pm.
Come on you Reds!
