Liverpool will be hoping to end a winless run when they travel to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday at 5:30pm.
The Reds are winless in their past four league games, all of which have been draws.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Bournemouth
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Arne Slot’s side still sit in the top four, but they are only holding onto their spot by one point. Hosts Bournemouth haven’t been doing too well, either. The Cherries sit down in 15th with just one win from their past 13 league games.
Liverpool teams news vs Bournemouth
Liverpool are in a decent position when it comes to injuries. There are a few long-term absentees, but they haven’t had any fresh concerns with the exception of Federico Chiesa.
The Italian is a doubt for this weekend’s game having missed the midweek win over Marseille. But he wouldn’t have been expected to start anyway. There is a question over Mo Salah, who returned to the XI in midweek. He’ll be hoping to make his first league start for Liverpool since November having been at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley remain long-term absentees. The latter duo will miss the remainder of the season, while Isak will hope to be back around the March international break.
Ibrahima Konate also missed the win over Marseille due to personal reasons, but he is expected to return to the XI this weekend. So Liverpool could lineup similarly to their draw with Burnley last weekend.
Salah would come in for Curtis Jones, with Florian Wirtz switching from the right to the No.10 role. There will be a battle to partner Ryan Gravenberch in the midfield. Dominik Szoboszlai appears likely to win the duel, starting ahead of Alexis Mac Allister.
Florian Wirtz making his mark
Florian Wirtz had a rough start to life in the Premier League. There was a lot of pressure on the German to hit the ground running, considering the transfer fee Liverpool paid. It took Wirtz 16 games to be directly involved in a goal in the Premier League, and he had started 12 of those.
Since breaking his duck just before Christmas, though, Wirtz has finally found his feet. The German has been directly involved in a goal in four of his past six league games, scoring three and providing one assist. They have been important involvements too, being worth six points for Liverpool.
It’s easy to see why, too. Wirtz is getting on the ball a lot more, averaging 91.3 touches per 90 minutes in his past six matches. He averaged 63.7 per 90 in his first 15 league games.
Wirtz is also attempting more passes at 73.8 per 90 to 45.6 per 90. Interestingly, though, Wirtz is averaging the same amount of chances created per 90 (2.2). The German is, however, taking more shots per 90 at 2.5 to 1.6.