AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool

billythekid

billythekid

UTC Legend
Chris Kavanagh is the referee.

Is he our ‘lucky charm’ this season?

We had him in the win away at Southampton and at home against Manchester United.

Things happen in threes as the saying goes.

Yep ‘pigs may also fly’, I know. :grinning:
 
I’m really clutching at straws here but I feel Liverpool have been ‘getting away with it’ for a few weeks now and their luck is about to run out. It might be tonight in the Merseyside Derby but if Eddie gets them fired up stranger things have happened.

I really shouldn‘t be drinking so early....
 
Something wrong with me. After watching the team not beat a 10-man Crystal Palace, I am having a hard time being optimistic about a match against Liverpool. I am such a pessimist today.
 
positives for anyone wanting straws to clutch

fabinho is injured for them

we have an extra rest day to prepare/get some walking wounded ready

we are at home

errm, we can’t play worse than last night
 
two top quality liverpool goals so far. our defence need to be very awake on saturday!
 
Didn’t realise Adam Smith left in a protective boot last night. We could really really do without Steve Cook and Adam Smith missing.
 
-------------Ramsdale-------------
Stacey-----S. Cook---Ake-----Rico
----Lerma----Billing----Gosling----
King---------Wilson---------Danjuma

Subs: Boruc, Francis, Mepham, L. Cook, Fraser, Kilkenny, Solanke

I'd have thought Cook would be able to play through a wrist injury if its fully wrapped up and dealt with (not a doctor)? Likewise, King might well be back for this game too.

If King isn't back, I'd like to see a player like Dobre or Anthony join Kilkenny on the bench. Our U21s have played some great football this season and these three have been at the heart of a lot of it. We don't need 3 defenders on the bench, so why not give the youth a chance?? At least they'd show some hunger.
 
Also, Eddie might be a lot of things, and he might strangely favor certain players and formations, but he's NOT an idiot. I would be very, VERY surprised if we saw a performance as bad as Palace on Saturday. We might lose 3 or 4 nil even, but I'm not worried about the scoreline (within reason). As long as there is a clearly defined gameplan with some life in it I'll be happy.
 
After these next two games, we have a run that goes:
Burnley, Arsenal, Brighton, West Ham, before the FA cup and no doubt wholesale change.

I would personally look at our list of 'minor injuries' and see if I could pick a squad for these next two that rests all of them, risk none. A.Smith, Cook, King etc. I want to make sure we can hit that above run of games with everything we have. If that unfortunately means making any upset against Liverpool/Chelsea even less likely, two defeats even more likely, so be it. Weather that storm. We won't decide our season in these next two games. The 4 games after will be far more telling.

Perhaps something like

Ramsdale
Stacey Mepham Ake Rico
Gosling Lerma Billing
Solanke Wilson Danjuma
 
Runaway League Leaders Visit Dean Court

So we witnessed a real low in watching our football team Tuesday night against 10 man Crystal Palace. It was the usual passing around slow build up, not much originality in ideas and in the end our fourth defeat in a row. This coming Saturday sees the in form league leaders Liverpool visit our ground and if it goes to form, AFCB will have their fifth defeat in a row. This has not happened in all our time in the Premier League.

The first season we met Liverpool at Dean Court they had a young lad called Jordan Ibe, he made the two assists that gave Liverpool victory that day and earned him MOM. He must have impressed our manager, a few months later he signed him.

This will be a tough game for our team against the side who were the runners up last season to Manchester City. City and Liverpool were both way ahead of the rest, with City winning the title by 1 point. This season so far Liverpool are the runaway leaders, early days yet, but their likeable manager Jurgen Klopp seems determined to get his hands on the Premier League trophy this season.
Liverpool haven’t been beaten in the PL since January 3rd this year when they lost in Manchester against City.

In the Summer Liverpool spent little money. They signed goalkeeper Adrian on a free after he was released by West Ham. Young centre-back Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle for an initial fee of £1.3 million. They also signed teenage winger Harvey Elliott after he left Fulham.

Liverpool are the only side unbeaten this season in the Premier League, winning all their home games and six out of the seven away games, one being a draw. The home wins have included all their nearest rivals in the league. Their first game in the PL this season was a 4-1 result against Norwich City. Other home wins, 3-1 against Arsenal and the same score against Newcastle United. Leicester City 2-1 and the same score against Spurs. Then last season’s Champions Manchester City 3-1. Last weekend against Brighton, goalkeeper Alisson was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area, the game ended 2-1. Midweek game against Everton finished 5-2 at Anfield.

Away from Merseyside, the wins started in the first away game at Southampton 1-2. Burnley went down 0-3 at Turf Moor. In London at Stamford Bridge Chelsea were on the wrong side of 1-2. Sheffield United went down by the only goal. The only draw came at Old Trafford against Manchester United, finishing 1-1. Then taking all the points away 1-2 against Aston Villa. Their most recent away game was against our opponents on Tuesday night Crystal Palace, it finished 1-2.

Last season at Dean Court Liverpool won 0-4, a Salah hat-trick and an own goal from Steve Cook, this was the same score as the season before at home. Previous to that the figure four featured again, only this time it was that thrilling comeback by the Cherries to win 4-3. In all our home games AFCB have W 1, D 0, L 3. In all competitions AFCB have W 1, D 3, L 11.

AFCB Team News
There was a surprise when the team was announced at Selhurst Park with no Steve Cook, a big presence normally in our side. He is another added to our ever growing injury list and to key players. Steve Cook it seems fractured his wrist against Spurs (a well kept secret)! Adam Smith returned after injury only to limp off near the end of the game against Palace and leave the ground in a protective boot. Otherwise it is the usual players who have been out. Another blow is on loan from Liverpool, Harry Wilson will not be eligible to play.

AFCB Player To Watch
Josh King was supposed to be out for two weeks with a minor hamstring injury, so just hoping he might make it for Saturday, we have badly missed him with other players out of form. He may also just ‘ignite’ Callum Wilson into action.

Liverpool Team News
Joel Matip has been out with a knee injury, as has Nathaniel Clyne. Fabio Tavares has an ankle injury, Fabinho is also out with an ankle injury. Against Everton, Liverpool’s strength in depth allowed Klopp to have Firmino and Salah on the bench, Firmino played the last 17 minutes.

Liverpool Player To Watch
Mohamed Salah has scored against us in every game he has played. Last season on our ground he scored a hat-trick and was awarded MOM. Instead of accepting it, he gave it to his team mate James Milner who made his 500th Premier League appearance. Sade Mane is their leading scorer with 9 goals.
 
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Adam Smith left Selhurst Park in a boot and Eddie quoted as saying he doesn't know the extend of the injury.

El Capitano Francis start incoming :wagging:
 
Ramsdale

Stacey (Smith if fit)
Mepham (Cook if fit)
Ake
Rico

H Wilson
Lerma
L Cook
Danjuma

Solanke
C Wilson (King if fit)


Boruc, Francis, Simpson, Billing, Gosling, Fraser, Dobre
 
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