Sports

Liverpool vs Bournemouth: Predicted Lineup and Team News

Published

3 months ago

September 21, 2024

Rachel Adams

Liverpool is set to host Bournemouth at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday. The fixture comes as the Reds aim to bounce back from a surprising defeat to Nottingham Forest, which marked Arne Slot‘s first loss as Liverpool manager. Nottingham Forest’s victory broke a long-standing record, securing their first win at Anfield since 1969, thanks to a goal by Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Liverpool’s recent form saw a recovery in the UEFA Champions League, where they managed a 3-1 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro. The victory was notable for its set-piece goals, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate each finding the net, followed by Dominik Szoboszlai‘s season opener, which solidified the win after an initial one-goal deficit.

Arne Slot will be looking to maintain this momentum against Bournemouth, who have already proven their capabilities this season with noteworthy performances against Newcastle and Chelsea. Bournemouth’s last visit to Merseyside was memorable, as they staged a remarkable comeback to win at Everton from two goals down, under the management of Andoni Iraola.

In team news, Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker faces uncertainty over his participation due to a muscle problem. Caoimhin Kelleher is on standby to replace Alisson and is eager for more opportunities on the field, having expressed his desire for additional minutes during the international break.

Additionally, Liverpool will be without Harvey Elliott, who sustained a foot fracture during the international break while training with England‘s U-21 team. The injury is expected to sideline the 21-year-old for at least a month.

A selection dilemma looms on the left wing, where Cody Gakpo is contending for more playtime after a standout performance against AC Milan. Despite Gakpo’s efforts, Luis Diaz‘s impressive four goal contributions in as many Premier League appearances make him a viable choice.

Arne Slot hinted at possibly giving Darwin Nunez his first start of the season. Nunez has been limited to substitute appearances thus far but is nearing full fitness. Slot remarked on the competition for the striker position, stating, “There’s a lot of confidence in him. But many games have to be played and there will be enough time to judge Darwin.”

The anticipated starting lineup for Liverpool in a 4-3-3 formation includes: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Diaz, and Nunez.