Bournemouth vs. Liverpool: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
With Manchester City hosting Chelsea on Saturday, Liverpool will be out to capitalise on a title rival inevitably dropping points when they make the trip to Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Reds begin the Premier League weekend in second position, with Chelsea one point clear and City trailing on goal difference. Jurgen Klopp's side will find themselves with a chance to move top of the pile provided City avoid defeat at the Etihad Stadium in that one.
A trip to the Vitality Stadium is no gimme for visiting teams, though. Bournemouth have had a fine start to the season and have produced some excellent performances on home soil, including a win over Everton and a 6-1 hammering of Hull City.
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This clash between two of the division's most attractive sides is not one to be missed. Here is how you can catch the action, the key team news ahead of the meeting and a closer look at how this one is likely to pan out.
Date: Sunday, December 4
Time: 1:30 p.m. (GMT), 8:30 a.m. (ET)
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), NBCSN (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), NBC Sports App (U.S.)
Team News
Bournemouth: Midfielder Lewis Cook and goalkeeper Artur Boruc are both doubts for the match, while Jordon Ibe is expected to start against his former club following a return from illness. Manager Eddie Howe will also be able to call on Jack Wilshere after he sat out the previous game against parent club Arsenal.
Likely XI: Adam Federici; Adam Smith, Simon Francis, Steve Cook, Charlie Daniels; Jordon Ibe, Jack Wilshere, Harry Arter, Nathan Ake, Junior Stanislas; Callum Wilson.
Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho will miss this one due to his ankle problem as will Daniel Sturridge, while Adam Lallana is a doubt. Danny Ings is a long-term absentee.
Likely XI: Loris Karius; Nathaniel Clyne, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, James Milner; Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum; Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi, Sadio Mane.
Team news courtesy of Fantasy Football Scout.
Preview
In what is their second season in the Premier League, Bournemouth continue to impress with their vibrant brand of football. Howe has assembled a technically gifted and hard-working set of players on the south coast, and while they fell to defeat against Arsenal last time out, they were unfortunate to do so.
FourFourTwo's Seb Stafford-Bloor hailed the display turned in by the visitors at the Emirates Stadium and the progress they're making:
Indeed, the game on Sunday will be Howe's 300th in charge of the club, and he's undoubtedly been the key to their remarkable rise through the football pyramid.
One of the hallmarks of their play under the bright young coach is belief in their attacking principles as a football club. They are principles that won't be abandoned on Sunday, even with a rampant Liverpool attack on its way to the Vitality.
It's an attack that has been dulled a little in recent weeks. The injury to Coutinho, arguably the finest midfielder in the league this season, is a big blow, while the presence of Lallana in the middle of the park has been missed. But Klopp has depth in abundance in attacking positions.
The man who replaced Coutinho from the bench against Sunderland was Origi, and after two goals in the space of four days, he'll feel he's done enough to earn a start.
Squawka Football summed up his positive recent contributions:
Bournemouth are one of the few teams in the division that may feel capable of measuring up to Liverpool in terms of energy and intensity. Howe has his players supremely well drilled, and they hunt the ball in packs with an unbending gumption.
A Reds team lacking their key creative force could struggle early on against that kind of opponent. However, as the game settles down, the quality of the visitors, coupled with the superior options on the bench available to Klopp, will swing this one their way.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-3 Liverpool
