Liverpool vs Bournemouth
The two Premier League meetings between these sides last season were certainly defining moments in the campaign.
In late August, Liverpool put nine past Bournemouth without reply to equal the record for the highest ever Premier League victory.
It was a win which highlighted the Merseysiders’ undoubted talent, but also suggested the Cherries were ill equipped for the top flight.
What followed was as surprising as it was breathtaking.
No one could have been too taken aback when Scott Parker received his P45 72 hours later but, that he was replaced by an even more inexperienced coach, initially on a temporary basis, had this pundit and many others believing they were certs for the drop.
Oh, how wrong we were!
Gary O’Neil did such a good job that he was appointed on a permanent basis and, with the south coast club, struggling in early spring, masterminded a shock, 1-0 home victory over Liverpool in the return game to trigger their run to safety against clubs with much bigger budgets.
It was another defining moment during a season in which Bournemouth survived with weeks to spare and Liverpool missed out on qualifying for the Champions League – a position no one would have predicted after that initial contest.
Now 12 months on, here we go again for two clubs seeking Premier League highlights.
Talking Points
Both opened with 1-1 draws last weekend.
Liverpool were at Chelsea where both sides delivered a prime example of why they were doing battle over Moises Caicedo, the Ecuadorian talent who has subsequently joined Chelsea from Brighton.
Their search for midfield reinforcements is continuing with the arrival of World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai earlier this summer, offset by the departures of former captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
It appears they are close to a deal to sign Stuttgart captain, Japanese international Wataru Endo who has already agreed personal terms and views the move as the biggest opportunity of his career.
The transfer has been driven by Liverpool’s new sporting director Jörg Schmadtke, who was appointed in May.
Meanwhile, Dominic Solanke salvaged a draw for Bournemouth against West Ham in Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game in charge of the Cherries.
Iraola is in charge at the Vitality Stadium after O’Neil was harshly sacked.
Iraola was known in Spain for direct attacking football with full-backs heavily involved, and he gave debuts to summer signings Max Aarons and Milos Kerkez in the two full-back slots.
They also have in their ranks Dutch winger Justin Kluivert, son of Patrick who has signed from Roma, joining a select group of players in the process.
He is the fourth player to feature in each of Europe’s top five leagues – the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A – after Florin Raducioiu, Christian Poulsen and Steven Jovetic.
If Kluivert junior can produce moments similar to that enjoyed by his father, Bournemouth may be in for some special times.
History
These sides have only met 19 times in their history – and 15 of those have been since 2014.
But while Liverpool have a dominant record, the Cherries have had a few moments to savour.
Not least in 2016 when they won one of the games of the season, fighting back from 3-1 down with quarter of an hour remaining to clinch a seven-goal thriller.
They followed that up four months later with a 2-2 draw at Anfield when Josh King scored a late equaliser.
The 9-0 romp last term was led by two goal Luiz Diaz and Roberto Firmino, while Philip Billing was the star on the south coast in March.
Betting Tip
The gap is vast as you’d expect with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
For example, Liverpool are priced 1X2 @ 1.21 with Bournemouth far out @ 11.50.
It is similar with Asian Handicap odds as the home side are on offer -2.00 at 2.02 with Bournemouth +1.75 @ 2.14.
The draw will earn you a payday @ 5.40.
There are usually goals aplenty in this match and that is reflected with odds of over 3.75 @ 2.21, total goal 2-3 @ 2.35 and 4-6 @ 2.20.
Compare that with 0-1 @ 6.80 and you can see a distinct difference.
I am plumping for a home win and my ** prediction is First Half Asian Handicap Liverpool -1.00 @ 2.17.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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