Liverpool have enjoyed a sensational upturn in form in recent weeks and have strengthened their grip on a top-four place with wins over Everton, Burnley, and Arsenal. They can maintain their lead over the chasing pack with another three points at Anfield against Bournemouth, but it will not be easy. Bournemouth are another team that have really turned it around of late and will be a tough nut to crack after going unbeaten in four games.
Recently these two were vying for the title of worst Premiership team in 2017. Liverpool posted their best first half of a Premiership season ever, only to take just five points from seven games in January and February, while also being eliminated from both cups. Bournemouth, meanwhile, were in freefall: they took just two points from seven games in January and March and conceded 20 goals in the process.
But March brought much better tidings for both. Bournemouth started with a 1-1 draw against high-flying Man Utd and used the confidence gained from that to go on and win back-to-back games against West Ham and Swansea. After the international break, they played Southampton in a south coast derby and were unlucky not to win. It finished 0-0 but they were the better team and had Harry Arter not slipped when taking a penalty, they would probably have made it three wins in a row.
Liverpool beat Arsenal 3-1, Everton 3-1, and Burnley 2-1, and also battled to an excellent draw away at Man City. They are back to the swashbuckling team of the first half of the season, with Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane full of pace, energy, and dynamism. It was Mane’s return that brought about the upturn in form, and he will be a huge miss after he was injured in that win over Everton.
Still, Liverpool will expect to beat Bournemouth at Anfield, even without Mane. Coutinho is in fine form and they have regained their hunger. However, the odds are not very attractive: Liverpool are best priced at 4/11 with Sky Bet and Sportingbet. Many will probably be tempted by the huge 9/1 on Bournemouth. After all, Hull and Swansea have already beaten Liverpool in 2017. One way of approaching it given those odds would be to give Bournemouth a plus handicap. Bournemouth +1.75 Asian handicap has odds of 1.75 with Bet Victor. Then even if Bournemouth lose by two goals you get half your stake back, and if they lose by a single goal, draw or win, you get paid out. That is a decent bet on a team unbeaten in four games.
Bournemouth have looked reborn of late, and if they do lose, you would not expect them to roll over like they were at the start of 2017. They have fire in their bellies once more, and they can take heart from the last game between these two sides. When they met in Bournemouth in December Liverpool were 3-1 up with just 15 minutes left on the clock. But Eddie Howe’s men pulled off the most remarkable comeback of the season: the first substitute Ryan Fraser made it 3-2, then centre back Steve Cook swiveled and volleyed home to bring Bournemouth all square. It looked to be heading towards a point apiece, but in the 94th minute Nathan Ake poked in and Bournemouth won 4-3. Liverpool are poor defensively and Bournemouth should once again cause them problems. You would also fancy Liverpool to score, but a draw or a narrow Liverpool win are not at all beyond the realms of probability. Another good bet would be over 2.5 goals and both teams to score, and odds of 21/20 with William Hill.
Calculators
