Game Week 27 Predictions: Liverpool to win at Bournemouth

Game Week 27 Predictions: Liverpool to win at Bournemouth - Premier League preview, team news, betting tips

AFC Bournemouth must be brave when they host Liverpool on Saturday at the Vitality Stadium to avoid another drubbing. (Photo credit: Inside Sport)

 

Bournemouth vs Liverpool

Vitality Stadium

1:30pm

All was going well for Bournemouth, albeit against their own expectations, at the Emirates last weekend after they raced to a two-goal lead with two early goals in each half, but the resilience of the leaders soon restored order and the Cherries left the pitch empty-handed.

It was a tale of what could have been at the end: scoring the fastest goal of the league season with Phil Billing sliding one under Aaron Ramsdale in just nine seconds straight from kickoff.

And Marco Senesi scoring early in the second half off a corner kick to silence the home crowd.

It was a different tale for Liverpool last weekend.

The Kop hammered supposed title contenders Manchester United 7-0, and if the Cherries leading 2-0 at the Emirates was an anomaly, not a single pundit saw such a result coming at Anfield.

United went into last weekend’s game as the clear favorites based on their current form, but again, certain games don’t conform to history or form.

So the big question is: does Liverpool go on from here to become the real deal in the top-four race?

The first leg was the straw that broke the camel’s back for former manager Scott Parker.

Nine goals went past Bournemouth at Anfield without a single reply, and current manager Gary O’Neil is not looking at that infamous result; instead, he wants to draw inspiration in his first hour at Arsenal.

Liverpool will soon be able to welcome back Luis Dias, and that would add some firepower to the front line that already welcomed back Diogo Jota.

Roberto Firmino announced he’s leaving at the end of the season for free on Friday, and you can tell that Darwin Nunez is already covering for him well.

How will Bournemouth approach this?

They cannot afford to sit deep like they did in the closing stages against Arsenal.

They conceded the second goal too early, and when they thought they had a point, they failed to clear their lines well, and Reis Nelson punished them with a scorcher.

Liverpool must win to keep their hopes of making the top four alive.

The Kop would go above Tottenham in fourth if they beat Bournemouth, which heaps pressure on the North London side ahead of their home game against Nottingham Forest.

The top four is now within the grasps of Liverpool; they have a game in hand as things stand.

Whatever happens in the Champions League, where they trail Real Madrid by three goals, can be swept aside to focus on returning to the elite championship via the league.

Watch out for Mohammed Salah, who seems to have found his feet alongside Nunez.

Fabinho was immense against United, and Elliot is showing why Liverpool rates him highly. Bournemouth would be lucky to escape a hammering here.

Verdict: Straight win Liverpool