Liverpool XI vs Bournemouth: Wirtz, Gakpo Choice Made—Injury News, Lineup Prediction

The Reds are yet to taste victory in the Premier League this calendar year.

Mohamed Salah has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. | Liverpool FC/Getty Images

Liverpool’s 13-match unbeaten run will be challenged on Saturday evening by Andoni Iraola’s up and down Bournemouth.

The Reds have hardly convinced during their lengthy undefeated streak and four straight draws is not exactly what Arne Slot would have wanted in the Premier League. Hs side confidently swept Marseille aside during a 3–0 Champions League triumph midweek.

Good news comes in the form of Bournemouth’s own crisis of confidence. After a strong start to the season, the Cherries have plummeted to 15th in the table and have picked up just six points from the last 18 available.

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Match Snapshot

• 🕒 Kick-off time: 5:30 p.m. GMT, 12.30 p.m. ET, 9:30 a.m. PT
• 📍 Location: Vitality Stadium
• 🏆 Competition: Premier League
• 📊 Recent form: WDDDD

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Team News

Liverpool were handsome winners midweek. | Xavier Laine/Getty Images

• ⚠️ Key injuries, absentees: Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konaté
• 🔢 Predicted formation: 4-2-3-1

Liverpool will be without several high-profile names for the journey to the south coast but the headline news is positive—Mohamed Salah is back from Africa Cup of Nations duty, primed to put his December dispute with the club in the past.

The absentee list includes £125 million British record signing Alexander Isak, who has a broken leg, and Ibrahima Konaté—he’s been granted compassionate leave following the death of his father.

Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni aren’t expected to play again this season, but young midfielder Stefan Bajcetic is close to returning from a hamstring complaint.

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Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Bournemouth

Salah hasn’t made a Premier League appearance since Dec. 13. | FotMob

GK: Alisson—Alisson was arguably worked less than expected against the free-scoring Marseille but still produced several quality saves to keep Liverpool’s clean sheet intact. Premier League shutouts have been harder to come by for the Brazilian.

RB: Jeremie Frimpong—The architect of Liverpool’s second goal in France, Frimpong is really starting to come into his own after an injury-hit beginning on Merseyside. Electric pace and a forward-thinking mindset make him difficult to deny.

CB: Joe Gomez—Ibrahima Konaté is expected to be absent again on Saturday following a family bereavement and Gomez, as Liverpool’s only other centre-back option, will fill in. The Englishman impressed in Marseille.

CB: Virgil van Dijk—There has been no rest for the 34-year-old this season, who continues to show remarkable durability given his intense workload and ageing legs. The Dutchman is always essential to a strong Liverpool display.

LB: Milos Kerkez—On his first return to the Vitality since his summer exit, Kerkez will be aiming to continue his recent purple patch of form. After a shaky start for the Reds, he’s starting to rediscover his mojo.

DM: Ryan Gravenberch—Much like his Dutch compatriot Van Dijk, the defensive midfielder is seldom afforded the opportunity to rest. While Wataru Endo has recently returned from injury, Gravenberch is the only man Slot trusts in the No.6 role.

DM: Curtis Jones—Alexis Mac Allister started against Marseille and produced an encouraging performance, but Jones could well return for Liverpool as Slot looks to rotate in the areas where he boasts solid depth.

RW: Mohamed Salah—Salah’s last Premier League appearance was the win over Brighton & Hove Albion in mid-December and he will be eager to get back among the goals for Liverpool having been prolific at AFCON.

AM: Dominik Szoboszlai—An inventive free kick in France earned Szoboszlai redemption for his penalty miss last weekend, with the Hungarian also starring in Liverpool’s third goal following a delightful flick.

LW: Florian Wirtz—The German has scored or assisted in four of his last six Premier League games and is showing glimpses of his Bayer Leverkusen form. He will be aiming to strut his stuff against a Bournemouth team leaking goals.

ST: Hugo Ekitiké—VAR and the woodwork denied Ekitiké on his return to France but the lively striker was still at the heart of the drama for Liverpool. He’s a constant threat and already has a goal against Bournemouth to his name from the reverse fixture in August.

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