EPL Match Preview – Liverpool vs AFC Bournemouth

EPL Match Preview – Liverpool vs AFC Bournemouth [VIDEO]

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Fresh from their opening English Premier League victory last weekend Liverpool return home to welcome promoted Championship outfit AFC Bournemouth, who will look to rebound from a narrow defeat to Aston Villa.

The Reds’ performance against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium was hardly spectacular and if it was not for another special moment from their Brazilian magician Philippe Coutinho, the scoreline would have been a better assessment of the match.

Bournemouth were desperately unlucky against Aston Villa after a late goal from Rudy Gestede handed Eddie Howe’s side their first taste of Premier League defeat, however, there were plenty of positives to ponder throughout.

Key Battle – Max Gradel vs Joe Gomez/Nathaniel Clyne

During the closing stages of Bournemouth’s opener the team lacked a spark and needed some enthusiasm off the bench, which was provided by Max Gradel, who joined the club in the summer from French side Saint Etienne. The Ivorian can play anywhere within the frontline, but Howe had him positioned out wide where he caused havoc for Villa, shifting the momentum with pure pace and tricky runs when cutting inside and taking the ball to the by-line.

Dependant on which side Gradel starts, either Joe Gomez or Nathaniel Clyne will have a busy time trying to tame the African flyer. That responsibility is doubled, considering the pair are new additions to Liverpool and will be watched closely by the Kop, not to mention they will be battling to keep the likes of Alberto Moreno on the sidelines.

The former Southampton defender out shone his younger counterpart against Stoke City, and fended off the wily ex-Barcelona attacker Ibrahim Afellay. While Gomez played well and handled the brash and tireless Jonathan Walters, he got caught out a few times and allowed Mark Hughes’ team to get in behind.

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Team News

Brendan Rodgers made some surprising choices for his squad that took on Stoke, none more so than the decision to play Dejan Lovren at centre-back ahead of Mamadou Sakho, but the Croatian handled the burden adequately and will most likely get the nod again this week. Jordan Ibe struggled to break through a resilient Potters back line and with new signing Roberto Firmino scoring a hat-trick in a behind closed doors friendly on Monday, we could see the Brazilian debut at Anfield.

Liverpool expected XI (4-2-3-1): Mignolet (GK), Gomez, Skrtel, Lovren, Clyne, Milner, Henderson, Coutinho, Lallana, Firmino, Benteke

There were a lot of impressive individual performances for Bournemouth versus Villa, wide players Marc Pugh and Matt Richie were constantly electric and Tommy Elphick led from the back, however, star striker Callum Wilson was kept quiet for the majority, as well as Joshua King who could make way for Gradel in what will be a fairly unchanged line-up.

AFC Bournemouth expected XI (4-4-2): Boruc (GK), Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Gosling, Surman, Pugh, Ritchie, Gradel, Wilson

Head-to-head

Liverpool and the Cherries have met only five times previously with matches in the FA Cup, and as expected the Reds dominate the record with three victories and two draws. The most recent clash was in the historic English tournament January last year, goals from Daniel Sturridge and Victor Moses were enough for Rodgers’ team to advance. The last game at Anfield was in 1968, and Liverpool won 4-1.

Prediction

It was a grind for Liverpool against Stoke, and the Cherries will most likely set up defensively and pose a similar threat, however, in front of a boisterous Anfield crowd, no doubt buzzing after that magical goal from Coutinho, the Reds should have too much for Bournemouth.

Liverpool 2 Bournemouth 0

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