Liverpool are set to travel to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, March 11. Last Word on Sports tries to put together a Liverpool Predicted Lineup as the Reds aim to back up the huge win over Manchester United with another crushing victory against the relegation battlers.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Bournemouth
Training with a smile 😄 pic.twitter.com/lAXinjPjC2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 9, 2023
How Liverpool Have Lined-up Recently
Jurgen Klopp has seen his side undergo a lot of injury issues this season, which has stopped them from competing for multiple trophies as they did throughout the previous campaign. However, things appear to be slowly – but surely – getting better for the Reds and they are now on the ascendency.
Their front three of Mo Salah-Cody-Gakpo-Darwi Nunez are finally doing wonders. Gakpo took time to adapt to his new environment after joining them in January and was criticized for his initial failings – but is now more consistent with his goal contributions. Summer arrival Nunez has been a chaotic striker for Liverpool and keeps on getting better as the season progresses – while Salah is again at his evergreen best.
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Liverpool have also recovered from the 5-2 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League and vastly improved their backline. The back-four that started in the 7-0 rout of United are probably their strongest and likely to continue for the rest of the season. In midfield, captain Jordan Henderson has energy back and Fabinho is shielding his backline well. Harvey Elliott can also be a bright spark with his attacking qualities, but he’ll probably be rotated against Bournemouth for their breakthrough midfielder Stefan Bajcetic – who was hailed as a ‘top boy’ by Jurgen Klopp earlier this season.
Liverpool Recent Form and Tactics
The Reds have won four of their last five Premier League games and have not conceded a single league goal since the 5-0 loss to Wolves last month. Their 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid is the only match they’ve lost in their last six outings in all competitions as well.
Now that he’s slowly starting to get more of his regular first-team stars back into the fold, Klopp is beginning to get them playing the high-octane, ‘heavy metal’ attacking style that has gained fame at the club under him. Liverpool produced a real tour de force against United in the second half last week, playing some immaculate, quick attacking football to score six in under 45 minutes.
Klopp has persisted with his 4-3-3 system all through this topsy-turvy campaign because of how much it has given him success. Salah is thriving in his free role, as he gets to move more inward into central areas to score goals – while also dragging defenders wide with his surging runs to open things up. Gakpo is also rotating around well in the final third, getting himself into key areas and delivering the goods for his side.
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Nunez is chaos with his off-the-ball runs as well as aerial prowess, as he loves moving out of his natural areas and opening up rigid defences with ease. Bajcetic has been given more and more freedom as the season has moved on and has been able to operate in the no.8 role. He’ll likely be given license to roam forward into the advanced areas and pick out his forward with brilliant defence-splitting passes – while Henderson also helps with the ball progression play and ball retention alongside Fabinho.
At the back, Virgil van Dijk’s best partner seems to be the proactive Ibrahima Konate – with the two forming a rock-solid bond. Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as they always do, will be asked to act like advanced wing-backs and make darting runs through the wings against Bournemouth – as they mostly create all the major chances with their terrific crosses.
While Liverpool heads into this game high on confidence, they can’t take Bournemouth for granted. The Cherries might be in a relegation battle, but they almost pulled an upset over league-leaders Arsenal and humbled them at the Emirates. Bournemouth will learn from that game, meaning if they take a lead against Liverpool – they’re unlikely to make it as easy for the Reds to create a turnaround. This means the entire Liverpool team, including impressive shot-stopper Alisson, must be on guard and fully concentrated if they’re to pick up another big win.
Liverpool Injuries to Consider
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Luis Diaz, Thiago Alcantara, and Joe Gomez will not be available for the game due to injuries. Cavin Ramsay is out for the season as well, while their summer signing from Juventus – Arthur Melo – still tries to gain match fitness.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup
Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Stefan Bajcetic, Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez
