Liverpool Vs Bournemouth Preview: Team News, Lineups, Prediction

Anfield will host its first Premier League game of the 2023-2024 season when Liverpool welcome Bournemouth to the Myserside on Saturday, August 19.

In the opening game of the 2023-2024 Premier League season, Liverpool managed to draw 1-1 with Chelsea, while Bournemouth also enjoyed the same scoreline against West Ham United.

In last weekend’s game, Liverpool struggled against Chelsea as they couldn’t control the midfield. Hence, that will be the German tactician’s major headache going into the game against Bournemouth which will kick off at 3 p.m.

The fact that Liverpool have not suffered a defeat at Anfield in their last 12 Premier League games would be a huge motivation to Klopp’s side. But coach Andoni Iraola would want to make his mark in the season by leading Bournemouth to do the unthinkable against the league giants.

While Klopp hopes that Mohamed Salah gets his name on the scoresheet on Saturday after his goal against Chelsea was ruled out for offside last weekend, Bournemouth will be banking on their 25-year-old Nigerian-born English forward Dominic Solanke who ended their three-game run without a goal last weekend.

Liverpool vs Bournemouth: Team News

Liverpool’s midfielders Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Stefan Bajcetic (adductor), who are both gradually recovering from the illnesses that kept them out until the end of the 2022–2023 season, are not likely going to be available for Saturday’s game.

The two are both being put through their paces in training, but Saturday’s game is expected to come too soon for them.

Also, even if Endo’s transfer to Liverpool is completed on time ahead of Saturday’s game, he is not likely to be thrown into the game.

On the other hand, although center-back Marcos Senesi was injured in the first 60 minutes of Bournemouth’s match against West Ham last week, manager Iraola, 41, is certain that the Argentinean was merely having cramps.

For the visitors’ trip to Anfield, Alex Scott (knee), Dango Ouattara (ankle), and Ryan Fredericks (calf) are already out. It’s uncertain whether Lloyd Kelly, Marcus Tavernier, Adam Smith, and Lewis Cook will be able to play on Saturday.

Liverpool’s Probable Lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Bournemouth Probable lineup:
Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Billing, Rothwell; Brooks, Christie, Kluivert; Solanke

Prediction: It is very unlikely that Jurgen Klopp’s boys would lose points at Anfield against Bournemouth on Saturday. They have a 79 percent chance of winning the game. Hence, the game will end 3-1 in favour of Liverpool.