Bournemouth vs Liverpool - predictions

After a little under two weeks rest for the Reds, supporters will be pleased to see that Liverpool are back in action this weekend. 

Jurgen Klopp's men travel to Bournemouth in the Premier League this Sunday, with a victory restoring Liverpool's five-point cushion at the top of the table.

As the Reds continue to perform above expectation in all competitions, most recently beating Fulham 2-1 in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, fans are beginning to get excited for what the second half of the campaign may bring.

A victory over in-form Bournemouth would certainly not dent hopes of a second Premier League title for the Reds, but it will prove a difficult challenge on the south coast.

Liverpool may have defeated the Cherries twice this season, but Andoni Iraola has helped turn things around at the Vitality Stadium after a tough start, his side in defiant form since the end of last year.

Here is how Anfield Watch's writers think Bournemouth vs Liverpool might play out.

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Sam McGuire: This has the potential to be a horrible, horrible fixture. Liverpool are without a host of players while Bournemouth are one of the form teams in the Premier League.

The Reds have a good record against the Cherries with Jurgen Klopp's men coming out on top in nine of his last 10. However, in this fixture last season, Bournemouth caused an upset with a 1-0 win and there was that 4-3 win over Liverpool during the 2016/17 season.

This isn't the sort of game you want when you're missing so many first team players. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'd probably take a point right now.

Having said that though, there are opportunities for squad players to make an impression and make their case for a start even when everyone returns. This could well work in Liverpool's favour.

I've talked myself into a narrow win for the away side.

Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool

Andy Headspeath: Liverpool are going for three wins in a row this season against Bournemouth and the Reds' overall record against the Cherries is very strong.

However, there are reasons for caution going into Sunday.

The two previous victories in 2023/24 were both hard-fought, with the Reds coming from behind in August and needing a Darwin Nuñez wonderb*stard in November to get over the line. Spurs defeat aside, Andoni Iraola's side are clicking now too and have the top-scoring Englishman in the league at their disposal.

Meanwhile, the absences of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai leave Liverpool without arguably their three biggest creators. Someone will need to step up.

A draw wouldn't be disastrous on the face of it but we've seen this movie before. This is the time of year when City turn on the heat.

If Liverpool want to be serious title contenders, they need to win these awkward ties.

Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool

Ewan Ross-Murray: I reckon this will be a really, really difficult game.

Bournemouth are absolutely flying at present, winning seven of their last nine, as well as being unbeaten at home since Liverpool defeated them in early November.

Dominic Solanke, a player Liverpool know well, is also a major threat. He's netted six in his last six Premier League games, winning December's Player of the Month award in the process. He's also never scored against Liverpool, so it seems inevitable that he will end his seven-game drought.

Andoni Iraola has developed Bournemouth into a pressing machine, one that could hugely unsettle the Reds, especially early in the game.

Liverpool's track record against the Cherries offers hope, but this feels like a completely different Bournemouth side.

With the Reds' long list of absentees, I think it could end all square on the south coast.

Bournemouth 1-1 Liverpool