JAKARTA - An interesting battle will be presented on Saturday 1 February when Liverpool, leaders of the Premier League, made a long journey south to face Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. This match is expected to be one of the toughest tests for Liverpool's title ambitions this season, given Bournemouth's recent impressive performances.
Liverpool, handled by Arne Slot, have just returned from disappointment in the Champions League after being defeated by PSV Eindhoven 3-2 in the final match of the group stage. Even so, this defeat did not affect their position as group winners, ensuring their place in the round of 16. On the other hand, Bournemouth, Andoni Iraola's side, performed outstanding with a 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League match, extending their unbeaten record in the league to 11 matches.
Liverpool entered this game with high confidence after a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town last week, with Mohamed Salah scoring a goal that saw him surpass Thierry Henry's record in the Premier League's all-time top scorer list. With a six-point lead over Arsenal in second place and having one game more, Liverpool remain on track to catch the league title.
Slot's side are also the only team unbeaten in this season's away game. This record is certainly an important asset against Bournemouth, a team that has beaten Arsenal and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium this season.
However, Slot was aware of the big challenges they had been waiting for. "Bournemouth has shown that they are a difficult team to beat, especially at home. We have to perform optimally to bring home the three points," the Dutch coach said, quoted by VOI and SportMole.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth appeared extraordinary despite being hit by an injury crisis on the front lines. Without Evanilson and Enes Unal who were absent for the long term, Bournemouth remained productive by scoring five goals without reply against Nottingham Forest. Dango Ouattara starred with a hat-trick, while Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo also scored goals.
The win saw Bournemouth move up to sixth in the standings, level with Chelsea, and is only one point adrift of Manchester City in the top four. Unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, Bournemouth has now been one of the best-performing teams in the Premier League since late November.
Andoni Iraola's coach emphasized the importance of his team's consistency. "We play as a unit, and the spirit of this team is extraordinary. Fighting Liverpool will be a big challenge, but we are ready to give our best," he said.
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Liverpool got good news with Joe Gomez's return to full training sessions after a hamstring injury that has kept him out since December. However, Diogo Jota still has to be sidelined due to a muscle injury, while Curtis Jones is doubtful of appearing due to fitness issues.
Slot is expected to return to field his main players who were rested against PSV. Mohamed Salah, who only needed one more goal to match Frank Lampard's record in the Premier League's all-time goalscoring list, will be a mainstay in attack.
In Bournemouth camp, injury is still a big obstacle. Evanilson, Enes Unal, Marcos Senesi, James Hill, Julian Araujo, and Julio Soler are certain to be absent. Meanwhile, Alex Scott, Luis Sinisterra, and Adam Smith are starting to show positive developments, but will most likely not appear as a starter.
With last week's outstanding performance, Iraola is not expected to make many changes to his line-up. Tyler Adams, who provided two assists against Nottingham Forest, will return to being a motor in midfield.
Liverpool have won their last four meetings with Bournemouth, including a 3-0 win at Anfield last September. However, Bournemouth is now a much more solid team, with a record four consecutive clean sheets in home games.
With both teams in the best form, this match is predicted to be fierce. Liverpool may have an advantage over paper, but Bournemouth has shown their ability to surprise big teams.
It will be interesting to see if Bournemouth is able to extend their unbeaten record or if Liverpool are getting stronger at the top of the table. One thing is for sure, this match will be one of the most exciting shows in the Premier League this weekend.
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz
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