Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at Manchester United when they continue their Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Reds are currently 16th in the table, having picked up just two points from their opening three matches, while Bournemouth sit 15th, collecting three points from their first three games.
Liverpool’s 2021-22 campaign ended in disappointment, losing out to Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title, before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Jurgen Klopp’s side would have been looking to make a flying start to this season, but it has been a struggle for the Merseyside outfit thus far, drawing their opening two league games against Fulham and Crystal Palace before losing 2-1 to Man United at Old Trafford on Monday.
The Reds threatened to claim a late point in Manchester, with Mohamed Salah halving the deficit in the 81st minute, but Man United held on to secure a huge three points, leaving Liverpool down in 16th position with just two points to show from their opening three matches.
Liverpool are already seven points behind early leaders Arsenal and five behind the champions Man City, meaning that there is certainly pressure on the team heading into this game, particularly as their next two after this one are against an improving Newcastle United and Everton in the Merseyside derby.
Klopp will not quite be hitting the panic button, but the team’s injury problems are a real problem at this stage of the campaign, and another poor result this weekend would lead to more criticism.
Bournemouth have lost each of their last six Premier League games against Liverpool, including both fixtures during the 2019-20 campaign, with the Cherries last beating the Reds at home in December 2016.
Scott Parker’s side opened their season with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa on August 6, but they have lost their last two against Manchester City and Arsenal, conceding seven times in the process.
Bournemouth have struggled in their last two against the current top two in the Premier League, and the promoted outfit now have another huge test against Liverpool, but they will enter the match off the back of a win, having overcome Norwich City on penalties in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
The Cherries, who will end the month at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, finished second in the Championship last term, picking up 88 points from their 46 matches, suffering just eight defeats in the process, but they will be aware of the task facing them in England’s top flight.
Bournemouth spent five straight seasons in the Premier League before two campaigns in the Championship, and they will be bidding to consolidate at the top level once again.
Liverpool Premier League form:
DDL
Bournemouth Premier League form:
WLL
Bournemouth form (all competitions):
WLLW
We say: Liverpool 3-1 Bournemouth
Bournemouth will take heart from Liverpool’s struggles thus far, but there should be a response from the Reds in this match. Klopp’s side cannot afford another poor result early in the campaign, and we are expecting the hosts to secure their first victory of the season this weekend.