Liverpool vs Bournemouth 07/03/20

7 March 2020

Liverpool welcome out-of-sorts Bournemouth to Anfield, looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League (PL) following a shock away defeat to Watford last time out.

The hosts have suffered three defeats in their last four matches in all competitions (W1), but they remain in firm control of their faith, holding a 22-point lead over second-placed Manchester City. Yet, last weekend’s 3-0 away loss to Watford was Liverpool’s first league defeat of the season and also the first PL match in which they failed to find the net after 36 consecutive games. Liverpool’s dip in form could be down to their growing problems in the attacking third. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp’s men have drawn a blank in three of their last four competitive outings. A match against relegation-threatened Bournemouth side they’ve beaten ‘to nil’ in three of their four previous top-flight home H2Hs could serve as a perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Meanwhile, the visitors head to Anfield on a run of three straight league fixtures without a win (D1, L2), conceding over 1.5 goals in each. Probably the main reason the Cherries have slipped to the relegation zone is their dismal away form. They’ve lost eight of nine of their previous PL away matches (W1), including the last five. Four of those five failures have seen them draw a blank. Additionally, only 39.29% of Bournemouth’s total PL goals scored came away from home (11/28), which makes them the second joint-worst attacking team on the road. They’ve also rarely managed to impress defensively, allowing 2+ goals in six of their last nine PL road trips.