Last season, the Cherries hosted Liverpool and shocked the travelling side with a 1-0 victory, a result they will be looking to repeat that in the EFL Cup this week. Yet the last two meetings in this competition has seen the Reds win with an aggregate score of 4-1.
Bournemouth
Before last weekend, Bournemouth had gone nine Premier League matches without a win, however a 2-1 victory over Burnley may have just got the ball rolling for Andoni Iraola. That victory places the Cherries in 17th place on just six points. They have struggled at both ends of the field this season, scoring an average of 0.8 goals per game and conceding 2.1. That attacking statistic is the joint second worst in the top flight and the defensive one is the third worse. Dominic Solanke has netted half of Bournemouth's goals and it is clear if the opposition can contain the number nine, Bournemouth will continue to have issues in the final third.
Bournemouth have defeated Championship sides, Swansea and Stoke, so far in the EFL Cup, however it wasn't a breeze. They conquered the Welsh side 3-2, thanks to a last minute Ryan Chrsitie strike and last time out, they beat the Potters 2-0, with Dominic Solanke scoring just after the break and Joe Rothwell doubling the advantage just minutes later.
Liverpool
The Reds have been excellent this season and only Spurs have been able to beat Jurgen Klopp's side, which was in a game where Liverpool had nine men for the final third. Unlike their mid week opposition, Liverpool have been ruthless in attack and they have shown just how secure they are at the back. After ten matches, they sit in fourth place on 23 points, netting 2.3 goals per game on average and only suffering nine goals so far. Klopp has an abundance of quality on his bench that can step into the starting XI, which allows the boss to rest some of his key players, like we have seen at times in Europe this season.
Last time out in the EFL Cup, the Reds beat a somewhat rotated Leicester City 3-1. Although the score line may suggest the match was relatively comfortable, the Foxes actually had the lead until just after half-time. From that point on, the quality in Liverpool's squad prevailed.
Verdict?
After their horrific start, the main priority for Bournemouth this season will be to maintain their Premier League status, which means Iraola may not take this competition quite as seriously as anticipated. Liverpool will rotate, but if the game doesn't go to plan then they can always bring on their stars.
The final prediction is Bournemouth 1-3 Liverpool.
