After what feels like an age, Liverpool are back in Premier League action this Sunday.
The Reds haven’t played in the the league since beating Newcastle United 4-2 on New Year’s Day. Since then, they’ve progressed in the FA Cup and put half-a-foot in the Carabao Cup final. But now, with batteries theoretically recharged, the Premier League is back.
It won’t be an easy game, though. Liverpool have already been to Dean Court to take on Bournemouth this season and came away with a tight 2-1 win. The Reds also lost at the ground last season. With the Cherries going well under Andoni Iraola, there’s the threat of lightning striking twice.
So says West Ham United forward Michail Antonio, anyway. Liverpool – and Liverpool fans – currently aren’t Antonio’s favourite club, so maybe this should be taken with a grain of salt. But speaking on The Footballer’s Football Podcast this week, the 33-year-old backed Bournemouth to win on Sunday.
“Bournemouth win 1-0,” Antonio predicted with a knowing roar of laughter. “[Dominic] Solanke, 1-0.” His co-host Callum Wilson, himself a former Cherries player, didn’t agree, though.
“Being a footballing person, realistically, I think the way Liverpool are playing it will be a tight game because Bournemouth are doing well but it’s going to be 2-1 to Liverpool,” said the Newcastle striker. The voice of reason.
Antonio predicts Liverpool loss
We’re not dismissing Antonio’s prediction outright, but we don’t feel as though the Jamaica international has made his predictions for the right reasons.
Antonio clearly has a problem with the Reds right now. Although none of that feels especially malicious, it does mean that he’s never going to back them to win just at the moment.
Nevertheless, his forecast does raise the point that this may not be easy for Liverpool.
They didn’t travel to the South Coast with a full team in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season. But that game still showed the threat that Bournemouth can carry.
Back then, the Cherries were in poor form and looking good for relegation. But in the past couple of months, Iraola has turned things completely around.
In the past eight league games, Bournemouth have won six, drawn one and lost one. They’re through in the FA Cup and former Red Solanke is on fire. They really are on some run of form.
That stretch included a thumping win at Old Trafford against Manchester United, as well as a good-looking draw against Aston Villa. They’re not to be taken lightly.
Thankfully, Liverpool can play a bit as well. We’d obviously be much more minded to take Wilson’s prediction, but this one is laced with a bit of trouble.
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