Bournemouth vs Liverpool. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance11,386.
Sunday 17 April 2016 13:47, UK
Liverpool could ring the changes for Sunday's trip to Bournemouth after their epic Europa League win over Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.
Jurgen Klopp's side staged a memorable second-half fightback to beat Dortmund 5-4 on aggregate on Thursday night and set up a semi-final clash with Villarreal.
Their attentions now return to the Premier League where they face three fixtures in the next week, including a midweek Merseyside derby against Everton.
Liverpool have already beaten Bournemouth twice this season, once in the league and once in the Capital One Cup, but the Cherries are finishing the campaign strongly.
They have won four of their last six games to pull clear of the relegation zone and could now challenge for a top-half finish.
Team news
Bournemouth could have winger Junior Stanislas back from injury, but striker Benik Afobe will miss out because of a hamstring problem.
Defender Adam Smith continues his rehabilitation from a hernia and midfielder Harry Arter (Achilles) is also not yet fit.
Forward Callum Wilson made a brief substitute appearance at Aston Villa last week following six months out with a knee injury, and manager Eddie Howe is expected to involve him again.
Midfielder Joe Allen is likely to get a start, having come on to make an influential contribution on Thursday, as is fellow substitute Lucas Leiva.
Striker Daniel Sturridge could return to the starting line-up while midfielder Emre Can, who twisted an ankle against Dortmund, is suspended.
Opta stats
Liverpool have lost none of the eight matches in all competitions they have played against Bournemouth (W6 D2 L0).
The Cherries have scored just four goals in those eight meetings with the Reds, and never more than once in a game.
If Liverpool win, they will become the first team in the Premier League to win away at 50 different grounds.
Christian Benteke is just one goal away from reaching the 50-goal mark in the Premier League (currently 49 goals).
Liverpool have won just 31% of the 16 Premier League games that Jordan Henderson hasn't started this season, compared to 53% in the 15 games with him in the starting XI.
James Milner has been involved in 14 Premier League goals this season for Liverpool (five goals, nine assists); his best return in a PL season since 2009-10 (19 goals scored or assisted).
Daniel Sturridge has started the last three Liverpool games in the Premier League - he hasn't started four in a row for the club within a single season since April 2014.
Paul Merson's prediction
After Liverpool's incredible win over Dortmund, they have to concentrate on the Europa League. Liverpool's top-four ambitions are pretty slim when you look at the table. They can still do it, but victory over Dortmund put them two games away from a final and potentially three away from a place in next season's Champions League.
They could win their next seven league games and still not make the top four. Bournemouth just did enough against Villa and were nothing special, so I still have to back Liverpool for a win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)
Betting
Liverpool are 23/20 favourites with Sky Bet for their trip to Bournemouth (23/10), with the draw a 12/5 shot. Jurgen Klopp's men are odds-on for a top-six finish but 16/1 outsiders to force their way into the top four.
Liverpool to win to nil is 11/4 and you can get 3/1 on a Reds win with both teams scoring. Former Bournemouth and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp is tipping the visitors to win by exactly one goal at 11/4. See all the match odds here.
