Who: Liverpool vs Bournemouth
When: Saturday, March 7th @ 7:30am ET
Line: Liverpool -420 | Draw +525 | Bournemouth +1050
Post updated with Alisson injury news.
What the hell is going on?
Liverpool lost to Watford. Watfuckingford. It’s their first domestic loss of the season. It was their first Premier League loss in over a year. This was after dropping their Champions League Round of 16 leg 1 showdown to Atletico Madrid. And since dropping 3 points to Watford, they lost a FA Cup match to Chelsea.
Time to hit the panic button?
Liverpool vs Bournemouth Preview
Let’s not hit the panic button just hit.
No, let’s pound it.
Liverpool haven’t been right since the winter break. There are multiple possible reasons for this:
- A club that plays at their intensity level does not do well with idle time. It takes a bit to get back to that level of intensity.
- The lads got a little too full of themselves.
- They’re so far out in front in the Premier League, they’ve lost focus.
- Jordan Henderson.
- A combination of all the above.
Whatever the reason(s), if Liverpool struggle to put away Bournemouth at Anfield, you’ll hear sphincters at the Kop tighten up really fast. Liverpool supporters have been incredible during this time, loudly backing the boys despite troubling signs. That could change with another wobbly performance.
Jordan Henderson will miss this match too, and that stings. The Reds have missed their captain’s intensity. The Injured Naby Keita is still injured. He will not be missed.
Most worrisome is the news of Alisson’s hip injury. He won’t be available this weekend and is a doubt for Atleti. While the Reds didn’t lose a domestic match with Adrian between the sticks, he’s not the class of Alisson.
Regardless, expect Jurgen Klopp to roll out his preferred starting XI (minus Alisson). With a Wednesday leg 2 match against Atleti on the horizon, he’ll want to get the squad sharp. The only question there is if Fabinho makes that preferred XI. He’s been shaky at best since returning from his ankle sprain. Fab errors have directly resulted in two goals against the squad.
Liverpool will need some creativity to open up scoring chances against Atleti on Wednesday. Does Klopp experiment with a more attack-minded midfield? Does he try to shake things up?
He may not be able to even if he want to. Without Henderson, Fabinho’s defensive bonafides are a must. Takumi Minamino still doesn’t look comfortable in the squad. Xherdan Shaqiri is out again. Curtis Jones isn’t ready yet. You’re probably looking at a midfield of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, and Gini Wijnaldum.
Whatever the case, expect the line-up you see on Saturday to be the same one you see on Wednesday (unless Hendo and Ali can recover in time). Klopp will work on organizing the defense and improving the link-up play of the front-three.
Prediction
Liverpool will win, but it won’t be convincing. Look for another wobbly 2-0 late win.
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