Game Week 23 Predictions: Liverpool and Bournemouth to rain goals at the Vitality Stadium

Premier League preview: Bournemouth vs Liverpool at Vitality Stadium – Salah back from AFCON, Semenyo sold to City, Cherries depleted; verdict BTTS.

Liverpool's hope of finishing in the top four will receive a big boost if they can complete the double over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. (Photo credit: BBC)

 Bournemouth vs Liverpool

Vitality Stadium

6:30pm

Liverpool has the chance to move closer to Aston Villa and Manchester City while also gaining some more advantage over Manchester United and Chelsea, who both don’t play until Sunday.

The Kops were left frustrated at home by Burnley last weekend, but they did well to beat Marseille 3-0 away from home, thereby strengthening their chances of finishing in the top 8 of the Champions League group phase, which guarantees automatic qualification.

Bournemouth is depleted by injuries and transfers. Andoni Iraola thinks his squad is only good enough to fight for survival, but he will give everything to climb as high as possible on the log, regardless of their current situation, which bothers most fans.

It’s tough to be Bournemouth right now. They just lost Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City, and that is one player who has lifted them greatly this season. Justin Kluivert is injured long-term; that explains why they’re only ten points above the drop zone.

In the reverse fixture, which was on the opening day of the season, Semenyo scored twice to peg Liverpool back before late goals from Mohammed Salah and Federico Chiesa took the result away from the Cherries; the latter will try again on Saturday.

With Salah back from the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool has an extra force on the flanks, while Florian Wirtz is beginning to find his feet with a goal every other game now. Is Liverpool primed to compete well at the tail end of the season?

How will Bournemouth approach this? They will express themselves the way they love to do. They will likely score, as they don’t know when they’re getting a hammering, but they must be defensively disciplined too to avoid real thumping.

Marcus Tavernier has joined Kluivert, Tyler Adams and Enes Unal in the treatment room; this makes their work even harder against Liverpool. However, trust whoever is selected to fight for their rights to play and win. It will be a tough one for the champions.

Liverpool will once again miss Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley, and they may also be without Ibrahima Konate, who just lost his dad and could be out on compassionate leave. Joe Gomez will deputise for the French centre back if he’s unable to play.

Liverpool will set up to attack early on. They may have to be patient as they try to contain the energy of the Cherries. Hugo Ekitike will be immense upfront. How will this one play out?

Verdict: Both teams to score.