AFC Bournemouth vs. Liverpool: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Liverpool come into this game with four wins in a row against Bournemouth, with the Reds taking an aggregate win over 7-0 from the last two head-to-head meetings. Liverpool have also been strong away from home, where they remain unbeaten in the league this season.

They should get a much stiffer test this time around, though, and they come into this game having seen BTTS occur in four of their last five games in all competitions, while Bournemouth have seen both sides register on the scoresheet in three of their last four. Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool.

One of the most intriguing games of the weekend takes place on the south coast as Bournemouth and Liverpool lock horns in the Premier League.

• Date: 01/02/2025
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: Dean Court, Bournemouth

Bournemouth come into this game in 7th place with 40 points from 23 games. The Cherries are having a season beyond their wildest dreams as they find themselves competing for a top four place. As things currently stand, Bournemouth are just one point shy of Manchester City in 4th and four points shy of Nottingham Forest in 3rd, so they're firmly in the running in what is a very competitive top four race.

Almost nobody would have expected Bournemouth to deliver a run like this coming into the season, but Andoni Iraola is doing an outstanding job, coaching his side to become one of the most voracious pressing units in the league. Additionally, the Spaniard is excellent at platforming his best attackers, evidenced by the work he's done with Justin Kluivert. Kluivert was one of the most heralded prospects in Europe as a teenager but after leaving Ajax as an 18-year-old, his professional career had not worked out as hoped and many thought he was on a path to unfilled potential. However, under Iraola, the 25-year-old is in the form of his life as he comes into this game with 11 goals and 4 assists in the league.

If the award were handed out today, Iraola would very likely be the manager of the season in the Premier League, and he has a chance to further strengthen his claim for that award in the remaining 15 games of the season. The Cherries have a very strong record against the league's big hitters this season and while they're the underdogs for this one, they're more than capable of springing a surprise.

Liverpool enter this game top of the Premier League with 53 points from 22 games. Week by week, the Reds are edging closer to a second Premier League title as their form shows few signs of faltering under Arne Slot. Liverpool have been the league's dominant team this season and sit six points ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand. The league title is far from sewn up, but the Reds have a fairly thick cushion between themselves and the Gunners whilst also looking by far the more convincing of the two sides.

If Liverpool did not win the league from here, it would mark quite the fumble, but it's hard to foresee what could stop them from here, especially when we factor in their strong record with injuries this season - particularly in comparison to Arsenal. Injuries to Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk would be a threat to their ambitions, but the pair have remained remarkably fit this season and their minutes have been managed intelligently, so that isn't like a likely outcome.

Having also finished top of the Champions League group phase, Liverpool have their eye on a historic double, and given they're still in both the League Cup semi-finals and FA Cup, it's still possible that they do the unthinkable. Previous attempts by the Reds to claim four trophies in one season have been unsuccessful, and there is an argument to be made that going all out in that many competitions reduces the overall likelihood of winning each trophy due to the physical demands of the schedule. Regardless, it's a good time to be a Liverpool fan and if they pick up three points here, it'll be a huge stride towards where they want to be come May.

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

Bournemouth Team News:

The Cherries have a long injury list, with Evanilson, Enes Ünal, Luis Sinisterra, Marcos Senesi, Alex Scott, Adam Smith, James Hill and Julián Araujo all on the sidelines.

After a thumping win over Nottingham Forest last time out, it's likely that Andoni Iraola will name the same starting XI for this one.

Predicted lineup: Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara.

Liverpool Team News:

Liverpool are doing well on the injury front, with Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota the only two likely absentees.

After resting most of their first-choice XI in midweek, Liverpool will be fresh heading into this one and could name the same side that started the win over Ipswich.

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

Bournemouth:

Bournemouth's form is excellent, with the Cherries having won four and drawn one of their last five games. Last time out, Bournemouth took on Nottingham Forest in a crunch clash between the league's two most overperforming sides, and Bournemouth resoundingly came out on top, winning 5-0 thanks to a Dango Ouattara hat-trick alongside goals from Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo.

Before that, Bournemouth surged to another excellent win, this time away at Newcastle, where a Kluivert hat-trick and a goal from Miloš Kerkez got the job done, a result that followed a 2-2 draw at Chelsea, where despite going 1-0 up through Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo, a late Reece James free-kick denied them the three points.

Following those results were a 5-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup, thanks to Kluivert, Ouattara (X2), Semenyo and Jebbison, and a 1-0 win over Everton, courtesy of David Brooks.

Liverpool:

Liverpool are also in good form, with three wins, one draw and one loss from their last five games. In the week, a much-changed Liverpool side were beaten 3-2 by PSV in the Champions League, a result that was preceded by a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town, with the goals coming from Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo (X2), and a 2-1 win over Lille in the Champions League, thanks to Salah and Harvey Elliott.

Prior to that, the Reds beat Brentford 2-1, courtesy of a late Darwin Núñez brace, and drew 1-1 away at Nottingham Forest, with the goal coming from Diogo Jota.

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