Bournemouthvs.Liverpool

The Cherries destroyed Nottingham Forest 5-0 last weekend, despite missing all of Alex Scott (knee), Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), Adam Smith (unspecified), Enes Unal (knee), Evanilson (foot), Julio Soler (unspecified), Marcos Senesi (thigh), James Hill (thigh) and Julian Araujo (thigh).

Scott, Sinisterra and Smith might be in with slim chances of returning to the squad this weekend, where the latter would certainly be an option to return at right-back if he is passed fit.

However, Iraola will likely persist with captain Lewis Cook in that makeshift slot for the time being, as the Englishman joins Kepa Arrizabalaga, Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi and rumoured Reds target Milos Kerkez at the back.

Cook operating at right-back would allow Tyler Adams to continue in the engine room alongside Ryan Christie; the American is now establishing himself after an injury-hit start on the South Coast and provided two assists in gameweek 23.

One of those helpers was for the in-form Justin Kluivert, who will operate in the number 10 role once again, no doubt with David Brooks and Antoine Semenyo either side of him.

Fresh from scoring his first-ever senior hat-trick, Dango Ouattara deputises in the centre-forward's spot yet again; his wonderful treble against Forest may have lessened Bournemouth's need to enter the market for a new attacking addition.

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:

Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara

Written by

Ben Knapton