Key events
Show key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this feature
3 min: Van Dijk goes long in the hope of releasing Salah down the middle. Too long. Neto gathers on the edge of his box.
2 min: Elliott, who was magnificent against Manchester United last weekend, prepares to skitter away from Lerma and attack the box, but Fabinho is adjudged to have clipped the Bournemouth midfielder seconds before.
Liverpool kick off. It’s very cold everywhere, and the south coast is no exception.
It’s Saturday, it’s nearly 12.30 … and the teams are out! Bournemouth play in their AC Milan inspired red-and-black stripes, while Liverpool wear their Groove Is In The Heart influenced tops. Tell you what, that Deee-Lite bassline is nearly as funky as this …
… which just sprung to mind for no particular reason. We’ll be off in a minute!
A reminder that there’s some other hot action going on right now. Looks like Richard, Tim and Sir Robbie might have lost the green room.
Jurgen Klopp speaks to BT. “Each Premier League game is a super-tough test and we are long enough in this league to know that … I cannot remember a day when my team did not respect the opponent … we didn’t play always well, it’s true, but the respect was always there and that’s what we have to make sure is there today … it is always about attitude … if the attitude is right then it about the football, but if the attitude is not right then the football is not decisive any more because we have a problem … this has nothing to do with the last game, or the next game, it’s just this game which is difficult enough … we have to make our own game and hopefully we can do that.”
Gary O’Neil speaks to BT Sport. “We’ve freshened it up a little bit from the team at Arsenal … it’s a huge day for Mark Brooks, he’s worked so hard and has been through an awful lot, so we’re just delighted to get him back … expectation needs to be managed, there’s still a part of the journey for Brooksy to complete, but it’s obviously a huge lift for everyone and I’m delighted for David … no matter who comes, we’re in a position where we have to find a way … against Manchester City we came up a bit short, did that at Arsenal and came up a bit short, so hopefully we can give it a similar performance and find a way to hopefully come out on top … the 9-0 hasn’t been relevant at all, the initial fall-out at Arsenal, the lads needed some help, but this week, eyes were on Liverpool … we know we’re in a relegation fight and need points.”
A reminder of where these teams sit in the Premier League. Liverpool are making a 2021-style late run for a top-four spot …
… while Bournemouth are currently bottom, though a win today would see them leapfrog Southampton, Everton and Leeds and out of the relegation zone, if only for a couple of hours.
Bournemouth make three changes to the starting XI in the wake of the 3-2 defeat at Arsenal. Jefferson Lerma, Lloyd Kelly and Jaidon Anthony come in for Chris Mepham, Jordan Zemura and Antoine Semenyo. There’s also some very happy news: David Brooks is thankfully back to full health and is in the matchday squad for the first time in 525 days.
Liverpool make one change to the side that started the 7-0 rout of Manchester United. Stefan Bajcetic replaces Jordan Henderson. Liverpool also welcome back a long-lost team-mate in Arthur Melo, who takes a place on the bench.
The teamsBournemouth: Neto, Stephens, Kelly, Smith, Senesi, Lerma, Ouattara, Anthony, Rothwell, Billing, Solanke, Rothwell.
Subs: Travers, Fredericks, Cook, Mepham, Brooks, Christie, Vina, Moore, Semenyo.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Vin Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Bajcetic, Elliott, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.
Subs: Adrian, Milner, Firmino, Henderson, Jota, Tsimikas, Carvalho, Melo, Matip.
⚪ #BOULIV TEAM NEWS ⚪
Here’s how we line up to take up on AFC Bournemouth today!
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 11, 2023 PreambleLast weekend, Liverpool beat Manchester United, one of the most in-form teams in Europe, by seven goals to nil. The last time they played Bournemouth, their opponents this lunchtime, they won by nine. Tot up the score of the last seven games between the Reds and the Cherries, and it’s 28-1 to Jurgen Klopp’s men. Fair to say that Liverpool, a top-four finish within their grasp again, are hot favourites to win today against relegation-haunted opponents.
But football is a strange game, and Bournemouth will still have fond memories of their sensational 4-3 victory against Liverpool in 2016, their only win in 18 meetings. They’ll also most certainly take succour from the recent match against Newcastle, a game they probably should have won, an impressive if futile late rally against Manchester City, and that last-gasp defeat at the leaders Arsenal last weekend, another one that could so easily have gone their way. Gary O’Neil’s men may be bottom, but they’re not a beaten docket yet, and Liverpool won’t take them lightly. Kick off is at 12.30pm. It, unlike Football Focus, is on. Solidarity.
Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol discusses the BBC’s announcement that Gary Lineker is ‘stepping back’ from his duties as Match of the Day presenter ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/fDg4ZztTs0
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 10, 2023