Liverpool vs Bournemouth prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2023-08-18 14:00.
For a second consecutive season, Liverpool failed to get their Premier League (PL) campaign off to a winning start, opening their campaign with a 1-1 draw at Chelsea. The backstory to the match was dominated by prospective moves for Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia, who have both since opted for blue shirts over red ones, although Jürgen Klopp stated that his club “are a step further in the right direction” on the pitch.
The Reds are expected to put all that behind them when they return to a partially redeveloped Anfield, but the more superstitious Kopites will be nervous considering Liverpool have missed out on the top four in the last three seasons when they’ve opened with two winless PL matches (2022/23, 2012/13 and 2010/11). They got off to a particularly slow start last season (D2, L1) until their upcoming opponents Bournemouth paid Anfield a visit on matchday four, with the Reds running out 9-0 winners to equal the PL’s biggest margin of victory.
Bournemouth got their revenge with a shock 1-0 triumph in the return fixture, putting an end to a seven-game losing streak against Liverpool. Much has changed at the Vitality Stadium since, with a host of departures and arrivals taking place, including the appointment of new manager Andoni Iraola, whose PL managerial career started off with a promising 1-1 draw against West Ham.
A similar result at Anfield would be monumental for the Cherries, but sharing the spoils on the road isn’t something they’re accustomed to doing, having earned the joint-fewest away PL draws last season (two). Iraola especially might take that result if offered it prior to kick-off, since his old Rayo Vallecano team ended last season winless in their last nine away games (D2, L7).
Players to watch: Liverpool’s Luis DĂaz started and ended the scoring in the corresponding fixture last season, with the Colombia international netting seven of his nine PL goals at home. He faces ex-Red Dominic Solanke, who’ll want to make an impact on his return to Anfield, and will remain persistent since each of his last six goals have come after half-time.
Hot streak: Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 19 opening home PL fixtures (W14, D5).