Game Week 2 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Bournemouth

Liverpool is expected to beat Bournemouth at Anfield but could the Cherries upset the odds? (Photo credit: Inside Sport)

 

Liverpool vs. Bournemouth

Anfield

3:00pm

The Premier League will not forgive anyone who slips this season; even Manchester City won’t want to give anyone the type of head start they handed to Arsenal last season. Liverpool should understand that.

Bournemouth earned a precious point at home last weekend after falling behind to a sleek Jarrod Bowen goal. The Cherries levelled with an equally satisfying goal, and they have to build on that fair start ahead of their sophomore season.

The last time the Cherries went to Anfield, it proved to be a harrowing trip as they shipped nine and lost their manager in the process; they were condemned by many as the favourites to go down from there, but they had other ideas.

Scott Parker was fired after the game at Anfield, partly due to the result and largely due to his demeanour and comments that seemed to have thrown the owners under the bus. A lot happened, and Gary O’Neil was handed the job. Bournemouth survived with games to spare.

Liverpool had an underwhelming season last time out; it’s a good time to put that behind them, and only three points at home against a team that doesn’t have a lot to lose is the only way for Jurgen Klopp and his side to prove their worth.

Liverpool laboured to a 1-1 draw at the Stamford Bridge Stadium last time out, and they can’t afford to drop points at this stage again. The Kops are odds-on to destroy the Cherries, and you wonder if we’re seeing a repeat of last season one more time.

Luis Diaz scored for Liverpool against Chelsea; he is set to be rewarded with another start, but the Cody Gakpo experiment in midfield has to be addressed. After losing out on Caicedo, the Kops got in Wataru Endo; can he do the midfield job?

Bournemouth has brought in great players to help them secure their premier league position. Tyler Adams joined from Leeds after the rigmarole between Chelsea and Brighton, and he’s expected to get a role in the middle of the pack alongside Billing and Senesi.

Watch out for Klopp’s poker game between his forwards; Diogo Jota didn’t impress last time out. Could Darwin Nunez be starting? Bournemouth will have a lot of defending to do, especially when they hear that roaring Anfield noise.

Verdict: Straight win for Liverpool.