English Premier
2025-02-01 - Bournemouth vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 1st February 2025 - Kick Off 3pm
Bournemouth
A crushing win over Nottingham Forest has maintained the strong run that Bournemouth have been producing and it is more impressive when you think of the host of injuries they are overcoming. Manager Andoni Iraola has been tipped for bigger jobs, but he looks content at the Vitality Stadium, even if the Spaniard is trying to temper expectations for the remainder of the campaign.
The Cherries might be 7th in the Premier League table and just 4 points behind Nottingham Forest in 3rd, but Iraola insists it will be a big achievement for Bournemouth to earn a spot in European Football. Fans are just excited by the football they are watching and Bournemouth have a 6-3-2 record at the Vitality Stadium where they have conceded just 7 goals.
Bournemouth are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions and they have won 4 of their last 5 fixtures ahead of this big game on Saturday afternoon. Since losing to Brighton, Bournemouth are unbeaten in 6 games at the Vitality Stadium and they have won 3 in a row in front of the home fans in all competitions.
Adam Smith, Alex Scott and Luis Sinisterra are closest to a return to the playing squad. They could be involved this weekend, while Bournemouth have also been linked for a loan move for Evan Ferguson of Brighton after injuries to Evanilson and Enes Unal.
Liverpool
The final game in the Champions League Group has proven to be something of a dead rubber for Liverpool and that meant Arne Slot was able to give his top names the night off. The Dutchman admitted that his analysis of the Knock Out Stage makes him believe that Liverpool finishing 1st or 2nd in the Champions League table makes little difference to the long-term outlook and Arne Slot has been focused on this fixture on the South Coast.
The Premier League leaders remain 6 points clear of Arsenal in the title race and Liverpool have a chance to shift the pressure onto The Gunners by playing first this weekend and then playing a game in hand in a couple of weeks time. The Reds have an impressive 8-3-0 record away from home in the Premier League where Liverpool have scored 30 goals and conceded 12.
Liverpool won their opening 7 Champions League games and that allowed them to make changes for the fixture in Eindhoven on Match Day 8, while there is little doubt this game at the Vitality Stadium is the biggest one of the week. The side have won consecutive League games against Brentford and Ipswich Town to just rebuild some domestic momentum. Liverpool have won 4 and drawn 3 of their last 7 away Premier League games.
Aside from Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo, the majority of those expected to start on Saturday were left in Liverpool to rest and recover this past week.
Head to Head
Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-0 at Anfield back in September.
Bournemouth have lost 5 of their last 6 at home against Liverpool, including losing a League Cup tie and Premier League game here last season.
Prediction
This has all of the makings of a tough away test for Liverpool and Arne Slot has recognised that very quickly.
The 7 straight wins in the Champions League meant Liverpool could rest their top names on Match Day 8 and that is important for the team. Arne Slot admitted that he was unconcerned about finishing 1st or 2nd in the Champions League Group ahead of the trip to Eindhoven and also stated that he had already been thinking about this game at Bournemouth, which is against his normal process.
Liverpool will know how tough it is going to be at the Vitality Stadium, despite a strong recent record here and a comfortable home win over Bournemouth already under their belt.
However, Bournemouth have really improved since that loss in September and they do go into this fixture in fine form after the crushing home win over Nottingham Forest. The likes of Manchester City and Arsenal have also fallen to defeat here and Andoni Iraola's men are playing with confidence.
The style of football is very pleasing on the eye, but Bournemouth have also been pretty resilient defensively with young players stepping up once opportunities have landed at their feet. It is perhaps the attacking intent that has some underestimating how well Bournemouth can defend and they will give Liverpool something to think about.
Of course this is a Liverpool team with a lot of quality in the final third- even when not at their absolute best, someone has been able to step up to help the team pick up big results. For much of the season that has been Mo Salah, but Darwin Nunez scored two late goals in the win at Brentford in their last away Premier League game and the likes of Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz have had their moments.
With that in mind it is hard to look past Liverpool, but Bournemouth have been very good at home and they are a team that will create chances too. The encouragement has to be the recent defensive performances produced by Liverpool and this could be an important day for Arsenal fans with The Cherries looking the right team to back with a full goal start on the Asian Handicap.
It would not be a surprise if Liverpool ended up having someone do something special to win the game, but Bournemouth should at least avoid a comfortable defeat. 5 of the 8 away Liverpool wins have been by at least two goal margins, but one of those was the very late show at Brentford and Bournemouth are in stronger form than The Bees right now and with the attacking players capable of playing a part in this fixture.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Bournemouth 2-2 Liverpool
