Premier League Liverpool vs Bournemouth: Can the Reds Stand the Heat?

Liverpool vs Bournemouth

Thirteen games to go and the tension at the top of the Premier League has just gone up a notch.

Liverpool have been in the race all season and occupied the top spot for weeks, but Jurgen Klopp’s side faces a serious challenge from Manchester City and Spurs. It’s vital the Reds get back to winning ways after a run of two draws, and Premier League Liverpool vs Bournemouth is their next chance.

The famous old Anfield ground will have a red-hot atmosphere, and the passionate Liverpool fans will hope for an easy passage against Eddie Howe’s Cherries. But while the Liverpool vs Bournemouth odds point to a comfortable home win, life is never that easy. Like it or not, the pressure has increased as the Reds have just been knocked off the top of the league, for the first time in almost two months, by Manchester City after the Sky Blues won at Everton in midweek.

Talking Points

Liverpool fans won’t like looking at this, but the Premier League table shows that City have made up four points over the last two fixtures to move ahead of the Reds on goal difference. No one expected the champions to lose to Newcastle a couple of weeks ago, but they have responded as league winners do, with ruthless back-to-back victories.

Liverpool legend calls for calm

Meanwhile, Liverpool picked up two points against Leicester City and West Ham and, particularly against the Hammers, it could have been worse. Former Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher has tried to rally his team, saying the Reds must stop worrying and look forward: “It doesn’t matter what anyone says really – whether it’s nerves, poor performance or whatever it may be. What they need to do is win the game against Bournemouth convincingly to put a bit of that talk to bed.”

That will be easier said than done, but the Reds need to make and take more chances than in the last two games if they are to stroll to a win. Sadio Mane has been the man on target while top scorer Mo Salah has cut a frustrated figure at times. And Pool’s defence, marshalled by the colossus Virgil van Dijk, must be on its game to thwart the Cherries’ attacking instinct.

Key injuries for Bournemouth

Bournemouth are poor away from home and Premier League fans expect Liverpool to win this match — Nathan Ake scores a late winner to stun Liverpool back in 2016

Jurgen Klopp has struggled with injuries to his defence, but the last two weeks have been unkind to his opposite number as Eddie Howe looks set to be without two important players. Neither top scorer Callum Wilson nor winger David Brooks trained yesterday, and both are very doubtful. They have scored 16 goals between them, and Brooks has provided four assists so they are a big double loss to the Cherries.

Brooks could be out for three weeks after injuring his ankle while scoring in the recent 4-0 win over Chelsea; he felt the injury during his goal celebration! Defender Simon Francis and midfielder Lewis Cook are also sidelined.

So this is a big game for attacking wide player Ryan Fraser, who has serious pace and an eye for goal, and eight-goal Josh King will provide a constant threat.

Meanwhile, centre-back Nathan Ake will relish the task of keeping Salah and co quiet.

History

Liverpool return home after collecting just a single point on a difficult trip away to West Ham last Monday. That means the Reds have had two wins, two draws and two defeats in the last six in all competitions.

In the last four games, Eddie Howe’s team won two at home and lost two away; they have struggled on the road all season.

Previous Liverpool vs Bournemouth results are reasons to be cheerful for the home fans. In the ten meetings since the Cherries arrived in the Premier League, Liverpool won eight, with one draw and one win for Bournemouth, that being the remarkable 4-3 win back in 2016 when the Reds were leading 1-3 but conceded three goals in the last 14 minutes!

But Liverpool have won the last three clashes, scoring 11 goals and conceding none.

Betting Tip

	Liverpool vs Bournemouth	Bournemouth Asian Handicap +2.00 @ 1.95
	February 9, 23:00 (GMT+8)

There will be plenty of twists and turns to come in SBOBET Premier League 2019, but will there be another one on Saturday in Liverpool? I think it will be another nervy affair as the pressure increases, and the Reds really need to whack the ball back into City’s court.

Liverpool are at 2.01 with that two-goal deficit, but Bournemouth will be a tricky customer. The visitors will be smarting having lost to Cardiff City last week.

They are missing key players, but I expect them to score despite Liverpool coming through eventually.

If they don’t, then it is time to worry.