Liverpool v Bournemouth: Preview, Lineups, Stats And Prediction

Liverpool v Bournemouth

19:45, Monday 17^th August

Liverpool play host to Bournemouth, with both teams coming into the fixture off the back of encouraging performances last weekend.

Brendan Rodgers always emphasises the importance of recycling possession and retaining the ball in his teams and this was no different last weekend, with Liverpool completing 378 passes. He’ll do well to warn his team of Bournemouth’s passing ability, though, as they completed 464 passes against Aston Villa (the third most in the league).

Two players who will be essential to either team’s chances of dominating possession will be Andrew Surman and Jordan Henderson. The duo completed 87 and 76 passes respectively in the last round of fixtures, which was the most for either side. Henderson is 41/10 with 888sport.com to score at any time on Monday.

Bournemouth’s centre-backs are likely to be wary of the aerial threat of Liverpool’s new signing Christian Benteke, with the striker likely to cause Tommy Elphick a real headache. Benteke demonstrated his excellent heading ability against Stoke as he won 64% of his aerial duals, whereas Elphick won 57%.

In centre midfield pairing Jordan Henderson and James Milner, Liverpool have an impressive engine room, with the duo capable of working their socks off for the sake of the team and the pair ran an impressive 12km and 11.1km respectively. In turn, Andrew Surman (11.1km) and Matt Ritchie (11km) topped the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for Bournemouth, and they’ll need to maintain these energy levels when they come up against Brendan Rodgers’ men on Monday.

Liverpool v Bournemouth Match Stats

• Liverpool have never lost to Bournemouth in six previous cup fixtures (W4 D2). This will be their first league meeting.
• Bournemouth’s two previous trips to Anfield to face the Reds have ended in a 4-1 defeat (FA Cup 3rd round replays in 1927 and 1968).
• Liverpool only attempted four shots (excl. blocked) in their first game against Stoke City – fewer than any other side on MD1.
• Simon Mignolet has kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League goalkeeper in 2015 (10).
• No side won more away games (13) or collected more points away (44) than Bournemouth in the Championship last season.

Stats via Dailymail

Liverpool v Bournemouth Possible Starting XI:

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Gomez, Milner, Can, Henderson, Coutinho, Firmino, Benteke

Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Mings, Ritchie, Gradel, Surman, Gosling, Kermorgant, Wilson

Liverpool v Bournemouth Prediction: 

A 2-0 win for the home side.

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars with at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ or with FIFA Ultimate team.