Home / Football / Liverpool vs Bournemouth – Match Preview
Liverpool

Liverpool vs Bournemouth – Match Preview

Liverpool’s hopes of a top four finish have been further boosted over the course of the last few days. Firstly a win over Everton in the Merseyside Derby on Saturday increased their chances while subsequently diminishing that of Ronald Koeman’s side and in addition to that they will then have to thank their Merseyside cousins after they held Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

That has now presented Jurgen Klopp’s side the perfect opportunity to put qualification to the Champions League in their own hands. They currently find themselves 5 points clear of Manchester United albeit Jose Mourinho’s men have a game in hand which will become two by the end of the night. But should Liverpool manage to get the better of tonight’s opponents Bournemouth then the gap then opens up to 8 points.

It’s at that point that Jose Mourinho may well feel that this is a race not worth running and ultimately the race for the top four becomes one that is run by just five clubs with Arsenal the outsiders, although as we have learned so many times you should never write off The Gunners no matter how much perceived peril they seem to be win. That’s the maths part and Liverpool will ultimately need to make sure they do their part of the equation.

Tonight they go into this home tie with Bournemouth missing not just Adam Lallana but now also Sadio Mane. It’s fair to say that the win over Everton on Saturday Lunchtime was somewhat of a bruising affair and although they came away with all three points the question that has to be asked is at what real cost will that be between now and the end of the season. Mane’s contribution may have only been a small one on Saturday but he still managed to put Liverpool ahead.

Goals from Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi but Liverpool back in the ascendency after Matthew Pennington’s equaliser and much will be asked of them again should they feature from the start tonight which after their goalscoring exploits you would imagine that to be the case. Liverpool may have less options going forward then Jurgen Klopp would like but he will still fancy his chances against this Bournemouth side.

Not only that but he will be looking to exact some revenge after Bournemouth’s sensational 4-3 win at The Vitality Stadium back in December. That showed just how good both teams can be in attack but also just how pourous they can be at the back. Bournemouth have tightened it up as of late but they are very much susceptible to the odd defensive blemish and they will hope that is not the case tonight.

Especially as they will be looking to build on their 0-0 stalemate away at Southampton on Saturday Evening. In what was a very much mid table affair it did not have many expectations going into it and to be fair it did not live up to them either. A bore draw is putting it nicely but ultimately for Eddie Howe’s it is another point nearer the hallowed 40 point marker and it also continues their impressive unbeaten run as of late.

Many were writing their obituary as they went on a barren run which saw them shipping goals with too much regularity but it is now four matches unbeaten for The Cherries in which they have picked up 8 points for their troubles. What makes the feat more impressive is that they have done so without Tyrone Mings who is serving a 5 match ban after his perceived stamp on Zlatan Ibrahimovic. If this run continues you do wonder if he will be able to get back into the team.

In fairness though I think this may well be the game that sees Bournemouth’s undefeated streak come to an end. Liverpool will look to put Manchester United to the sword in terms of a top four place and this will be the perfect way in which to do so. Therefore I cannot see nothing else but a home win even without their key men Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane. Liverpool to strengthen their grip on a top four finish.

Leave a Reply