Liverpool ready for Bournemouth trip after Marseille win.

Bournemouth vs. Liverpool kicks off at 17:30 [GMT] on Saturday, January 24, at the Vitality Stadium.

Few opponents have caused 15th-placed Bournemouth [LDLWD] as many defensive headaches as Liverpool. The Cherries have conceded 52 goals in 17 Premier League meetings with the Reds – more than against any other side, a figure matched only by Manchester City. That imbalance has been reflected in recent results too, with Liverpool winning 12 of the last 13 league encounters, Bournemouth’s only relief coming via a 1-0 home victory in March 2023. Bournemouth’s broader form offers little comfort. They have won just one of their last 13 Premier League matches (D6 L6), a dramatic dip that has dragged them into trouble. Since that run began in November, only Wolves and Burnley have collected fewer points, while no team has conceded more goals in that period. Their vulnerability against elite opposition is particularly stark: Bournemouth have lost 10 of their last 11 league games against the reigning champions, underlining the scale of the task ahead. That said, there are individual sparks of encouragement. Marcus Tavernier continues to be one of Bournemouth’s brighter outlets, scoring his fifth league goal of the season last time out. That equals his best-ever Premier League return, and he now has the chance to record a goal or assist in three consecutive appearances for the first time in over two years. Evanilson is expected at the attacking end of Bournemouth’s 4—2—3—1 formation.

Liverpool make their return to domestic football following a 3-0 win over Marseille in the UEFA Champions League. Back in the Premier League, where they sit in 4th place, they remain unbeaten in their last 10 matches, the longest active run in the division. However, this sequence has stalled somewhat, with four consecutive draws [WDDDD], all of which have come in 2026. Historically, only Southampton and Tottenham have opened a calendar year with more successive top-flight stalemates, a quirk that hints at Liverpool’s difficulty in turning control into wins. Goal patterns also tell an interesting story. Liverpool matches have been relatively quiet before the break – only Sunderland have seen fewer first-half goals – but they explode into life after half-time, with more second-half goals than any other team this season. That trend could be decisive against a Bournemouth side that has struggled to contain pressure late in games. Creative influence remains key for the visitors. Florian Wirtz has been directly involved in goals in four of his last six league appearances, contributions that have already proven match-winning for Liverpool. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Hugo Ekitiké in attack is expected against Bournemouth.