Liverpool vs. Bournemouth: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Bournemouth have won only three of their last twelve games away from home in the Premier League, all of which came against sides in the lower portion of the league - Everton, Wolves and Burnley.

Liverpool, conversely, have lost just two league games at Anfield in the last two years, and in light of last weekend's defeat will be motivated to secure a convincing win.

Since the start of last season, Bournemouth have failed to score in only two league games away from home both teams to score looks firmly on the cards.

Liverpool have won 12 of the 15 head-to-head meetings between the two teams in Premier League, including the last three on the bounce, and it feels likely they'll further improve that record this weekend. Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth.

Liverpool are looking to right the wrongs of last weekend's game as they take on Bournemouth in the Prmeier League this weekend.

• Date: 21/09/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool, currently 4th in the league with nine points from their opening three games, have shown early signs of promise under new manager Arne Slot, with the Reds having won three of their first four games. Liverpool's early form under Slot has been a showcase of stylistic transition from Jürgen Klopp's heavy metal football, and with that has come a number of positive developments, one of which is an admirable degree of defensive strength. The Reds have conceded just one goal in their opening four matches, and their expected goals against (xGA) figure of 0.94 per game is the third-best in the Premier League. Much of this can be attributed to Slot's more reserved, less defensively exposing setup, as well as strong performances from the defensive line, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté holding a solid partnership at the back.

Slot was handed no major first-team signings in the summer so the former Feyenoord boss has been working with signings that are centred around the style of a manager who prefers a notably different style, so to yield visible improvements in the team at this early stage of the season is a promising sign.

While Liverpool's defence has been tight, their attack has been equally impressive, led by the evergreen Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian has already contributed three goals and three assists in just four games, continuing his prolific form from previous seasons. Salah's creativity and finishing ability have been key to Liverpool's attacking play, with the forward seamlessly adapting to Slot’s tactical ideas. His understanding with fellow forward Luis Díaz has also been crucial, with Díaz chipping in with three goals and an assist in his own right.

The fluidity of Liverpool's forward line, which has also seen contributions from Diogo Jota, is difficult for opposition defences to deal with and its versatility gives the team multiple avenues through which to score, but with confidence in the potential of Darwin Núñez to become a reliable Premier League goalscorer seemingly dissipating it could require further reinforcement in the near future.

Anfield remains a fortress for Liverpool, although defeat to Nottingham Forest was already their first home loss of the campaign, which will be a concern. Last season, they lost only once at home in the league, but repeating that feat under the guidance of their new manager could now prove tricky.

With five points from four games, Bournemouth have made an encouraging start to the campaign under new manager Andoni Iraola. The Cherries are aiming for a top-half finish this season, and while results have been mixed, their performances have shown signs of progress. Iraola's high-pressing, energetic style of football makes Bournemouth a tricky opponent, and the South Coast side will likely feel like their performances have been worth more than just five points, with the Cherries failing to pick up maximum points from a couple of games in which they enjoyed much the better of the play.

The team currently ranks as the third biggest underperformers in terms of expected goals (xG), with a negative differential of -0.43. There is enough talent and firepower to even out that ratio, though, and they'll be hoping that summer signing Evanilson soon finds his goalscoring touch given the size of his transfer fee.

If Iraola’s side can sharpen up their finishing, there is every reason to believe that Bournemouth can start to surge up the league table and even make a run at the European places, potentially. Wins at Anfield are few and far between for any team in England but Nottingham Forest proved last weekend that it's never beyond a team with quality in their ranks, and fortunately Bournemouth have just that.

This game will not be televised live in the UK, but full radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio Merseyside.

Liverpool Team News:

Changes could be made to the starting lineup following the Reds' loss last weekend, with Cody Gakpo hoping for a place in the starting lineup.

Harvey Elliott remains out with an injury, while Federico Chiesa is still working his way to full match fitness.

Predicted lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Díaz; Gakpo.

Bournemouth Team News:

Andoni Iraola could make a change or two for this one as the Cherries look for some more ruthlessness in attack, with Luis Sinisterra a prime candidate for a call-up to the starting lineup.

Kepa Arrizabalaga should return to the starting lineup between the sticks after missing last weekend's game through ineligibility, but Tyler Adams and Dango Ouattara both remain on the treatment table.

Predicted lineup: Arrizabalaga; Araujo, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Sinisterra.

At the weekend, Liverpool welcomed Nottingham Forest to Anfield and came out of the game on the wrong end of the result. The Reds were threatening in attack but always looked vulnerable in transition, with Forest spurning a couple of opportunities through Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood before eventually taking the lead through a stupendous goal from Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Arne Slot will be frustrated by his side's lack of creativity, with Liverpool unable to carve enough clear-cut openings to really trouble Forest keeper Matz Sels.

Prior to that game, Liverpool hammered rivals Manchester United 3-0 away from home, a game that followed successive 2-0 wins over Brentford and Ipswich Town.

Bournemouth's most recent encounter was one of the most frustrating games they'll played in recent memory as they fell to a 0-1 defeat to Chelsea. The Cherries were largely the better side throughout and missed a number of glorious chances to take the lead, king of which was a penalty in the first half that new signing Evanilson saw saved as he still awaits his first goal.

Substitute Christopher Nkunku won the game late on for Chelsea but Bournemouth will really be kicking themselves at how they let that game slip away from them.

Some might say that game was karma for the prior weekend's result, though, where Bournemouth staged a dramatic late comeback to beat Everton 3-2 despite trailing 2-0 in the 86th minute to an Everton team that had largely dominated them.

That result was preceded by a 1-0 loss to West Ham United in the EFL Cup and consecutive 1-1 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

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