Peter Neil Bell's Blog: Cherry Chimes, page 39

Do Bournemouth have winnable games remaining in March?

There are six more points available to try and pick up in March for Bournemouth those points could give them a big gap on the teams below if they did win them, but it has been a while since we have seen back to back wins and even longer since we have seen an away win for the Cherries.
Jack Stacey and Nathan Ake should be available on Saturday.Bournemouth should not feel that the results of the past should influence what is to come. They need to believe that if they can play as well as they have against Chelsea and Liverpool that they can do even better against teams lower than that in the table. Strange results happen at the end of the season so Bournemouth can't rely on other teams to do them any favours when they play other bottom clubs. It's all about what Bournemouth do now and that means looking at the fixtures in a positive light. 

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Crystal Palace may be viewed as the easier of the two games as it is a home match, but they have win three of their last five games, while Wolves have only won two of their last five. Palace get unexpected results and are difficult to score against, so it will be important that Bournemouth don't get frustrated if they can't get an early breakthrough. We saw in the away match how Bournemouth couldn't break Palace down when they only had 10-men and they were hit on the break. Howe will have to guard against this Palace side's counter-attacks better than they did in December.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version - down to £7.99!While Bournemouth won't be worried too much about Wolves at the moment, it has to be hoped that they can go into that game with three points under their belt. That would make the game seem much more winnable as the confidence should be there then to see the team know that they can take a big step towards survival, if they defend well against Wolves, who will surely attack heavily at home.
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Bournemouth have to view these games as winnable. They need to pick up points now to try and ease the pressure and get out of the bottom three. It will mean disappointment if they don't get the points, but I can't see there being any less pressure on them if the players were told three points from the two games would be okay. Howe has to set them up to go and win both games.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Lerma should forget about being a booking off a two-match suspension

Interview with The Eagles Beak - preview of AFCB v Crystal Palace

Lerma should forget about being a booking off a two-match suspension

Eddie Howe had been asked in his press conference before the Liverpool game if he might be tempted to rest Jefferson Lerma and leave him out for the games against Crystal Palace and Wolves, where Bournemouth might be expected to have a better chance of winning. Howe was adamant that it didn't come into his thinking and that he'd pick his best side, although 10 minutes from the end of the Liverpool game he made a tactical decision to sub Lerma to protect him from getting a card.
Lerma is vital to Bournemouth's hopes of staying up.A two-game ban will hit Bournemouth pretty hard as Lerma is such an influential midfielder. But I suggest Lerma doesn't concern himself too much about the possibility of picking up a card, as it would impact on his game. Bournemouth need a Lerma that launches into tackles and looks to dominate games. If you take five or 10 per cent of his game away, he just won't have the same impact.
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It may be that Lerma avoids a booking anyway. But it's only a silly booking that would annoy Eddie Howe. As long as it is an important challenge to stop a team from scoring, we can't be overly concerned if he is doing his job for the team. If he misses the Wolves and Newcastle games so be it. I am sure Howe would live Lerma to be available for all of the next three games, but he is on a tightrope.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!Bournemouth are not so stretched in central midfield and have the likes of Dan Gosling and Andrew Surman to come in if Lerma does pick up his next card. It might not be ideal, but every player will want to do their absolute best to try and keep Bournemouth up and they all may need to play their part.
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Look out for Cherry Chimes on the Eagles Beak later today for a view on AFCb ahead of AFCB v Crystal Palace

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Is Callum Wilson too anxious to score?

Is Callum Wilson too anxious to score?

Callum Wilson did well to put away his goal at Liverpool but he might have had another when Aké broke throw in the last minutes of the game. It's arguable that Wilson should have let Aké go ahead when he was through, but he pleaded with the defender to pass and Wilson tripped over the ball instead of passing it into the net.
Wilson has the ability to forget missed chances which could serve him well.The kind of run that Callum has been on now, pinching the odd goal, is evidence that he feels back in the zone. But he could be netting more often and he knows it. He has missed a few last minute chances to get important goals for Bournemouth, but what I like about Callum is he'll keep putting himself on the line to try and get the winner.

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This season won't be a memorable one for him at the moment, but if he can get on a run of goals and keep Bournemouth up that will give him an awful lot of pressure. His England chance may have gone for the moment, but he has the possibility of getting into double figures again and I expect he is desperate to finish as the top goalscorer this season.

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As we come to the end of this season, it does become clear that Bournemouth are lucky to have Callum. Take him out of the team and you don't see as many goals with Solanke replacing him. Josh King as his own problems with injuries and Bournemouth need a fit Callum Wilson perhaps more than any other player for the run-in.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!What we need to see from Callum though is not being satisfied with a goal a game. He hasn't scored more than a goal in a match this season. I believe we have to go back to Spurs v Bournemouth in November to even see a Bournemouth player get more than one goal in a game and that time it was Harry Wilson. Callum is hungry enough to get the goals for Bournemouth, but I don't want him to be overly anxious when his big moments come. We should also not forget that Callum is on nine yellow cards for the season and I expect the next card he gets could test Bournemouth's strike rate further, if he is not available.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Away performances are nearly there for AFCB

Away performances are nearly there for AFCB

Bournemouth still haven't picked up any points this calendar year away from home and Eddie Howe hadn't quite got it right in these games, but we can see the players are getting closer to turning things around and gaining the all important points from games. I don't think there is a mental block any more with away performances, the team did their best to take their top game to Liverpool. Circumstances again prevented them from getting the result they wanted but some of those circumstances were undoubtedly down to AFCB's own game.
Back at home on Saturday, where points have been easier to come by.What was pleasing was to see Bournemouth really go at Liverpool and create so many chances. When Callum Wilson scored it gave the team a belief that they could do it again. While Nathan Aké and Ryan Fraser came very close to getting a second goal on the scoreboard, the game just ran away from Bournemouth in the end. If it had ended 2-2 though, I don't think Liverpool could have complained that much.

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Sometimes you don't get the points you feel you deserve in games, but it shouldn't stop Bournemouth doing many of the right things that were giving them such a god chance to win the game. The counter attacks were well constructed and considering we have sen on there games away from home with Callum Wilson looking very isolated, this wasn't the case at Anfield.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -available now!Part of the reason for Bournemouth looking more slick I felt was the contribution of Lewis Cook. He has had a couple of games now to get into his stride and he is starting to play the passes that put opposition teams on the back foot. He did make a mistake which led to Mané's goal, but you have to have a player who takes risks to try and make a difference.

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Bournemouth know their away game is much more competitive now. So they can rest on the knowledge that if they can push Liverpool then they have the game to trouble other teams away from home.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Aké needed to take responsibility when he was through on goal

Aké needed to take responsibility when he was through on goal

The last few minutes of the match with Liverpool were pretty difficult for Bournemouth fans. Nathan Aké latched on to a pass, I think from Lewis Cook, and looked destined to score with Adrian trying to rush out to close the angle. In that moment there is probably a different thought process going through the mind of a defender than a striker. If it had been Callum Wilson or Ryan Fraser with the ball at their feet, they'd probably have gone for goal or tried to take the ball around Adrian. But Aké didn't want that responsibility or thought that Callum Wilson would be more likely to score, if he passed. Sadly, it wasn't the right decision, but how can players always know what is the best decision to make?
Ake is getting forward ell bu must take on the shot when he is best placed to shoot.Nathan Aké has probably already had a few sleepless nights over his indecision and failure to shoot in the last minutes against Liverpool. He'll have played the moment over and over in his head a thousand times I 'd expect and seen a different outcome every time. There is only one take that counts though, and the pass to Callum might have felt right in Ake's mind. He probably gets shouted to in training by Callum every day that he should pass, and it was probably instinct for him to do so.

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We do need Bournemouth players to shoulder responsibility though. Whether it is Aké, Wilson or any other of Bournemouth's players. When they feel they have a good chance to score they need to have the courage to be selfish and take the chance. They need to want that. It was the same when Steve Fletcher scored against Grimsby, to keep Bournemouth in the league, he wanted the moment and owned it.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -available now £7.99!There will be more games when Bournemouth's players are in similar positions. We saw Billing miss a couple of chances against Chelsea early on, and it's not going to be the same player every time. But now it has come to the hard end of the season and while it is nice to make goals look easy, it is a difficult job with great pressure. Somehow Bournemouth's players need to want to feed off the adrenaline of the pressure and being in that moment. If they score they become automatic heroes.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Steve Cook loss is crippling for AFCB

Steve Cook loss is crippling for AFCB

There was only one turning point in the game with Liverpool for Eddie Howe. It was the moment early in the first half when Steve Cook pulled up after trying to stop Firminho in Bournemouth's box. The injury was immediate and Steve Cook could do nothing about it, but from being a goal up and looking strong, Bournemouth's insecurities came back to haunt them and Liverpool took full advantage.

Steve Cook has to sit a few games out.The pairing of Steve Cook and Nathan Aké has been Eddie Howe's pillar at the back, but he hasn't had the chance to play them as often as he'd like. With Chris Mepham also out for probably another month, and Simon Francis having a knee problem, Bournemouth really need Jack Simpson to fill the void. Jack made the mistake to give Liverpool their first goal, but he he equally made a great goal line clearance a few minutes later. He can step up and will need to in Bournemouth's next game and it is his time.

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While Steve Cook will be a spectator along with Simon Francis for the Palace game, they can still be positive around the team and tell them what it would mean for them to see the lads win the games. It is a case of passing the baton on and if Bournemouth are going to be a club that brings players through and succeed, they need players to come in and make a difference.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!Steve Cook will be a big miss. He has a defiant character and warrior spirit that make him well prepared for the battles Bournemouth face in the run-in. But now it's up to others and Bournemouth can't allow themselves to feel negative about not having him on the pitch. They can only worry about the variables they can control and if that means making Jack Simpson play like he is Virgil van Dyke next game, then that is what the need to concentrate on.



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Chimes to Camera: AFCB 2 v 2 Chelsea
Previous post on Cherry Chimes - "We're killing ourselves," says Adam Smith

"We're killing ourselves," says Adam Smith

Adam Smith gave a very open and candid interview on AFCB TV following the defeat at Liverpool. It would be easy for him to say we were unlucky and were simply beaten by a better side, but he was honest in admitting that Bournemouth made mistakes and that is ultimately what cost them the game.
Mistakes are proving very costly at this point in the season.I think it is important for players to admit when they haven't got things totally right. The disappointment can spur them on to do better next time and if they don't see that they made mistakes they are only cheating themselves. Once Bournemouth recognise that they have made mistakes in situations they can work on things to ensure they make the right decisions next time.
The errors that Jack Simpson and Lewis Cook made for the Liverpool goals were quick moments when things just got away from the players. It is the concentration that is the issue. If there was a training mechanism that kept players focussed and in control of their thoughts for 90 plus minutes, all teams would be employing that technology. But players are human and will make mistakes. Some times players get away with it, but against a team like Liverpool mistakes are punished.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!Individual errors are part of the game and it is just that Bournemouth's players are making more of them than many other teams, and they are doing it now at the time in the season when they can least afford to make them. It's been a characteristic of this season and several others for Bournemouth, and it is the level at which they are playing. The players so want to do the right things but are finding it hard to be decisive at times.

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The pressure is only going to be turned up in the next few games, so it is important that players get their heads around how they can best cope with the ball at their feet, and see it as a good thing that they have possession, and that they are in control when they have the ball.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - A strong performance at Anfield but no points

A strong Bournemouth performance at Anfield but no points

We keep hearing similar comments after Bournemouth's away games. The team has not played badly and should have got something from the game, but as usual they didn't pick up any points. That may be okay at the early part of the season, but when points are desperately needed, Eddie Howe needs a change in results as well as performances now.
Bournemouth will next have to seek points at home.Liverpool are a unique team and are going to give any team problems. But it must frustrate Howe that his players coped with Klopp's team rather well for most of the match and yet couldn't pick up any points in a game that had its moments for the Cherries. Is it all bad luck? I think when it comes to injuries to Steve Cook and Philip Billing, then yes, Bournemouth are being unlucky. But the results only change if the squad is good enough on the pitch.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -available now!Picking up points has been difficult away from home and mistakes have been made. Last Saturday was no different and the players have to somehow put that behind them and feel that they can change so that the results in forthcoming games are more positive. There might not have been any points, but there were good moments against Liverpool. When we look back at other away games this season, the Liverpool game was better if unsuccessful.

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Fans can draw on the fact that Josh King and Harry Wilson were not available. They will both be likely to come into the team in the next match. Bournemouth were playing well at Bournemouth, but did not score when it had chances to so the addition of these two attacking players could be the extra ingredient that stretches Crystal Palace.



AdvertisementIt's all about the points now and nothing else really matters. Luckily West Ham and Watford are still within striking distance and just getting out of the bottom three would give the players a huge lift.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Bournemouth push Liverpool all the way but remain in the bottom three

Bournemouth push Liverpool all the way but remain in the bottom three

Match ReportLiverpool 2 v 1 AFCB7 March 2020Attendance: 53,323 Bournemouth play well but are beaten by Klopp's troops - nine games left.Few people would give Bournemouth a chance going to Anfield, even if Liverpool were on a poor run away from home. But Bournemouth took the lead with a break and Callum Wilson not being penalised for a shove on Gomez and Callum Wilson tapped in a square cross from Lerma. It could have been 2-0 when Aké tested Adrian with a header, but a mistake by Jack Simpson let Mané in and back in the game, and Salah soon made it 2-1 when Lewis Cook missed a pass. Bournemouth will rue missed chances in the second half. Fraser almost drew level with a chip that was cleared off the line and Nathan Aké will be having Eddie Howe shouting in his ear about why he didn't shoot, with just Adrian to beat on 90 minutes. You always felt Liverpool had enough though, especially when Mané pinged an effort off the post in the second half. Still, Bournemouth had the chance of a draw, but couldn't take it.

Bournemouth just made on change with Josh King out with a hamstring problem and Junior Stanislas coming into the team.

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It's a sunny and crisp day at Anfield. Bournemouth look like the villains in their dark blue shirts. Callum Wilson is already doing some chasing up front on his own. Aké puts a ball out for a throw in.

Liverpool are already dominating possession, but mainly with sideways passing. Stacey does well to head the ball away. Lerma made a good interception, but van Dyke clears up quickly.
Steve Cook clears from under his own bar as Alexander-Arnold put a wicked cross in. At least the flag has gone up for offside.


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Ramsdale is out quick to clear ahead of Salah. Bournemouth look like they are in two lines of five. Callum Wilson against Billing down to Lerma and his cross is put in by Callum Wilson 0-1 to Bournemouth on nine minutes. VAR takes ages over the decision but a goal is awarded despite a push early in the move by Wilson on Gomez.

Lewis Cook crosses well but just too high for Stanislas. Billing is fouled by Oxlade-Chamerlain. Milner concedes the corner. Aké heads well but Adrian gets something onto it before it comes ff the bar. Stanislas keeps out Salah on the break.

Adrian has to come out as come on strong on the Bournemouth break. Lewis Cook to Wilson and Billing can't quite get through the middle - it's clipped van Dyke's heel. Bournemouth look like they'll score on the break.

Ball in behind for Firminho past Steve Cook and Ramsdale saves. Steve Cook has done his hamstring. Jack Simpson will have to come on, Cook is off on 19 minutes.


Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -available now!Stansials has his cross blocked. Wijnaldum on the break. Milner plays it square. Lerma gets his foot in. Lewis Cook gets his foot on and Liverpool have a corner. Lots of players are down. Wijnaldum needs treatment for a head injury.

Liverpool are certainly rattled. It's not flowing football from them. Simpson gives the ball away to Mané and Salah has shot right n the corner of the goal 1-1 on 25 minutes. Salah shot through Lerma's legs and Ramsdale was unsighted.

Lewis Cook almost gets Fraser away. Alexander-Arnold puts a cross along the six yard line but Simpson clears for a corner. It's bouncing around the box, but Bournemouth clear. It's another corner now to Liverpool.

Stanislas and Lewis Cook do well up the right. Gomez regains possession for Liverpool. Oxlade-Chamberlain has a shot blocked. Bournemouth are under a lot of pressure.

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Simpson intercepts but Lewis Cook misplaces his pass. Van Dyke pushes the ball forward and Mané is in the clear and he puts Liverpool 2-1 up on 33 minutes. Lewis Cook lost the ball and the gap opened up for Mané.

Great cross from Stacey, but he's offside. Mané handles the ball to stop it going out of play but is not given a yellow card, much to Lerma's disgust. Callum Wilson fouls Gomez. 
Milner sneaks in at the far post but hits a weak shot at Ramsdale. Adam Smith is injured after a push from Gomez. Stanislas has a drive and it's parried out for a corner.

Adrian punches as Liverpool break. Billing is getting after Liverpool players. Lerma wins a free kick. Stanislas can't stop a long kick from Ramsdale without giving a throw away. Wijnaldum wins a free kick off Billing.

Stacey clears. Fraser to Stanislas, Fraser to the back post but Billing can't get to it. Bournemouth defend well from Mané and Salah.

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Lewis Cook plays in Wilson but Adrian just arrives in time. Four minutes of added time. Fraser puts Stacey in trouble. Fraser wins a corner. Milner clears.

Wijnaldum and Alexander-Arnold, but Aké blocks. Adam Smith clears.

AFCB Possession 28 per cent, Shots 4, Shots on target 3, Corners 4, Fouls 6
Liverpool Possession 72 per cent, Shots 5, Shots on target, Corners 3, Fouls 5

Second half
Aké concedes a corner. Billing clears. Simpson clears ahead of Mané. Liverpool camp themselves in Bournemouth's half.

Oxlade-Chamerlain is blocked by Aké. Bournemouth are very deep. Wilson against van Dyke, can't get round the Liverpool player. Billing to Fraser, a ball in from Billing is aimless. Adam Smith does well.
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Simpson blocks Mané in the box. Lerma does fantastically to battle for the ball and eventually Mané fouls him. Still no card for Mané. Wilson does well to keep the ball. Bournemouth have some possession.

Billing sticks one over the top and Fraser is in chips and it's over the keeper, but Milner clears right on the line. Bournemouth were so close to an equaliser. Stanislas crosses and Aké is just beaten to the header, by Milner and Adrian.

Milner takes a free kick but Ramsdale clears. It's another corner now for Liverpool off Fraser. Aké wins the header. Adam Smith concedes a corner on 66 minutes.

A header from van Dyke is held by Ramsale. Solanke is looking to come on for Bournemouth. Stanislas goes off on 68 minutes. Wilson goes down, again noting from the referee. Salah has handled the ball out of the box. It's out for a corner, no it's offside.



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Solanke and Adam Smith come forward. It's to deep for Fraser. Firminho drives a ball across the box but Mané can't get a touch on it.

Mané goes for a shot from 30 yards and rattles the post. That was close. Sala cuts in side and drives at goal but shoots wide. Ramsdale got a touch on it. Salah's past Fraser and Milner crosses and Aké clears for a corner.

Solanke intercepts and Bournemouth get the ball up to half way. Fraser, oh Lerma has over hit a pass. Gosling is getting ready to come on. Lerma is subbed for Gosling on 80 minutes.

Ramsdale takes a long free kick. A shot goes wide from Oxlade-Chamberlain. Billing is injured. Solanke kneed him in the back/hip by mistake. Lallana replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain on 84 minutes. Billing is standing but hobbling.



AdvertisementBournemouth are down to 10 men. Mané and stacey go down and nothing is given. Billing comes back. Fraser wins possession but Liverpool win it back. Adrian has to come out to beat Solanke.

Bournemouth have a free kick. Stacey is fouled. Last minute. Now is a great time to score. Aké is free kicks it square and Callum Wilson has the ball stuck under his feet, he's offside. Why din't Aké shoot? What a chance. Four minutes of added time. Salah and Firminho misses a chance at the other end over the bar.

Four minutes of aded time and Callum Wilson has been booked for fouling Milner. Origi comes on for Firminho.

A long kick up field. Liverpool counter. Stacey blocks Origi.  Liverpool win a free kick off Adam Smith. That's it.

Summary
Bournemouth had a great chance to get a pint at the end with Aké bursting through, but his unselfish pass to Wilson just undid the good work. It wasn't a convincing performance by Liverpool, but they got the job done. Bournemouth lost this game though because of self-inflicted wounds. Jack Simpson and Lewis Cook will hold their hands up for mistakes, but more concerning is possible injuries to Steve Cook and Philip Billing. Bournemouth need everyone fit, and the only good omen Howe has is that Lerma is still available for the next game having not been booked. Bournemouth hung in the game but we are still waiting for their luck to change.

Liverpool
13 Adrián, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 12 Gomez, 4 van Dijk, 7 Milner, 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 3 Fabinho, 5 Wijnaldum, 11 Salah, 9 Firmino, 10 Mané

Liverpool Subs: 8 Keita, 18 Minamino, 20 Lallana, 22 Lonergan, 27 Origi, 32 Matip, 76 Williams
AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 7, Stacey 6, Simpson 5, Aké 8, A Smith 6, Fraser 6, Lerma 7, Billing 7, L Cook 7, Stanislas 5, C Wilson 6

Cherry Chimes MoM - Nathan Aké
AFCB Line up AFCB Subs: 1 Boruc, 4 Gosling, 21 Rico, 25 Simpson, 6 Surman, 44 Surridge, 9 SolankeRef Watch: Paul Tierney 2/10 - afraid to get the cards out. 

Have recent Liverpool defeats made things worse for Bournemouth?

I don't think that it will have helped Bournemouth that Liverpool have somewhat come off the rails in recent matches and have lost their unbeaten record. The Champions-elect are only four league wins away from claiming the title, and Klopp will only concentrate on one game at a time. All his efforts and thoughts will be on beating Bournemouth on Saturday.
Now Bournemouth have to take on the very best.Whether Liverpool are lethargic and have not been able to pick up their form since going to UAE is only something they can answer. When I saw them play against Watford and Chelsea, I thought they did their best and were unlucky at times not to score. That has been the big factor in their recent games - Liverpool aren't scoring. But how long will that last? They are probably thinking the Bournemouth game comes along at just a right time for them to sharpen their goalscoring.

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What I am sure of is that Liverpool will have plenty of possession against Bournemouth. They will have to improve on breaking down the opposition defence, but recent games that Liverpool have been in have been fairly open games. Whether Bournemouth look to play an open game will be something Eddie howe grapples with. I expect him to put five across midfield and not leave many spaces.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!Liverpool will be on a mission to tick off the remaining points they need. They need to find form ahead of their Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid and Bournemouth will be seen as a warm up game for that at Anfield. Bournemouth will have to find something special to keep Liverpool at bay, now that the media is throwing headlines around that Liverpool are running out of steam, Klopp's side will be revved up to show that is not the case. We can hope that Liverpool continue to lose their way, but it is much more likely they will focus on being more ruthless in front of goal, so I don't think recent Liverpool defeats will be much help to Bournemouth at all.
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Bournemouth have to concentrate their own game and hit Liverpool as hard as they can. Even a draw at Anfield and a clean sheet would be a fantastic result considering the last five matches in this fixture have a cumulative score of 17-0. UTCIAD!
Possible AFCB line-up AFCB Subs: Boruc, Kelly, Francis, Surman, Stanislas, Solanke, SurridgeAFCBTV Preview
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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Is it a free hit against Liverpool for the Cherries?