Bournemouth capable of pushing Reds all the way

Premier League
Sky Sports Premier League, 12.30pm Saturday

Liverpool have continued to grind out victories in recent week without being at their flowing best and they may have to demonstrate patience to see off a competent Bournemouth outfit at Dean Court.

The Reds profited from Jordan Pickford’s error to win last Sunday’s Merseyside derby in stoppage time before digging deep to claim three points against lowly Burnley having gone behind.

That Turf Moor contest was the first time since May 2017 that Liverpool had started a league match without any of their deadly attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Mo Salah or Sadio Mane.

Mane is a major doubt to feature against the Cherries but Salah and Firmino, who came off the bench to score Liverpool’s second at Turf Moor, are expected to return to Jurgen Klopp’s starting line-up.

Victory would see Liverpool usurp champions Manchester City at the top of the table, at least until the Citizens face Chelsea later on Saturday, but beating the Cherries in their own backyard is no easy task.

Only Manchester United and Arsenal have come away from Dean Court with three points in the bag and on both occasions Bournemouth could have gained at least a point.

The Cherries have always been enjoyable to watch since establishing themselves in the Premier League but boss Eddie Howe has added steel to their ranks this term to such an effect that they have risen to seventh after 15 games.

Goals have been the order of the day in this fixture recently with at least three strikes in each of the last five meetings. While that is tempting, backing the game to be level at half-time before Liverpool pull away in the second looks to be the best wager.

The Reds have gone in all-square at the break in their last three league matches before going on to claim three points and a similar scenario could play out on the south coast.

Premier League standings

Recommendation
Draw-Liverpool double result
1pt 7-2 general

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Bournemouth
Midfielder Lewis Cook is out for the season after rupturing a knee ligament against Hiddersfield on Tuesday. Dan Gosling (knee) also misses out.

Liverpool
Joe Gomez (leg fracture) joins fellow defenders Dejan Lovren and
Nathaniel Clyne on the sidelines while Sadio Mane (foot) is a major doubt. Andy Robertson is available again.

Key stat
Liverpool have been level at half-time in five of their last eight league games.

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