Liverpool have built up a head of steam after the October international break and are next in Carabao Cup action away at Bournemouth on Wednesday night.
It remains to be seen just how far Jurgen Klopp can take this Liverpool side in 2023/24, but the Reds are currently performing like title contenders.
The 2019/20 champions brushed aside Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Sunday to stay within touching distance of the current leaders.
Victory over Championship high-flyers Leicester saw them progress into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, and they’ll take on Premier League opposition in midweek. Bournemouth overcame Stoke in the third round to advance, and Andoni Iraola secured a mammoth three points against Burnley at the weekend to ease the pressure on his job status.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth round tie.
Bournemouth vs Liverpool H2H record (last five games)
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Summer arrival Tyler Adams will miss the bulk of his debut season and isn’t expected to make his next Bournemouth appearance until at least February 2024 after undergoing hamstring surgery.
The hosts will also be without starting goalkeeper Neto, while fringe players Ryan Fredericks and Emiliano Marcondes are both unlikely to feature on Wednesday.
Milos Kerkez, David Brooks, Dango Ouattara, and Justin Kluivert should all return to the XI for Liverpool’s visit.
Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Radu; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Kerkez; Rothwell, Billing; Ouattara, Brooks, Kluivert; Solanke.
Klopp will certainly shuffle his pack and deploy a team similar to what we’ve seen in the Europa League so far this season.
Young Jarell Quansah started the third-round win over Leicester and could come back into the team on Wednesday, but fellow academy gem Ben Doak is nursing a muscle injury which will likely keep him out altogether. Klopp is without Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, and Andy Robertson due to injuries.
Cody Gakpo has come off the bench in Liverpool’s previous two outings after returning from a knee injury, and it looks like he’ll be ready to start Wednesday’s cup tie.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Bournemouth (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Jota.
Bournemouth secured a massive Premier League win at the weekend, and Iraola will hope that his side’s controversial success over Burnley will ignite his reign. This is a free-hit for the hosts, who aren’t expected to get past a Liverpool side in fine form.
The Reds are unbeaten since the October break and while Klopp will rotate his side for this cup tie, the projected group of personnel have grown familiar with each other during their Europa League ventures.
While the Cherries’ momentum from Saturday could make this contest tricky, the Reds should eventually prevail.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-3 Liverpool
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90Mins
