Good morning! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's early Premier League kickoff as Bournemouth host Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium!
This has been a fixture laden with goals in recent years so we should be in for an entertaining contest today, with both sides enjoying impressive campaigns so far. Victory could be particularly important for Liverpool, who would pile the pressure on Man City ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge later today.
Let's start with a look at the team news...
BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Daniels; Stanislas, Surman, Brooks, Lerma, Fraser; King
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Boruc, Mings, Rico, Pugh, Ibe, Mousset, Defoe
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Fabinho, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Wijnaldum, Keita; Shaqiri, Firmino, Salah
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Mane, Henderson, Sturridge, Lallana, Origi, Alexander-Arnold
Interesting selections from both managers!
We'll start by looking at the visitors, who once again make changes as Jurgen Klopp looks to keep his side fresh ahead of a big week next week.
There is something of a defensive injury problem with Joe Gomez having fractured his leg and Lovren still sidelined with concussion, which means that Matip once again partners Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the back four today.
Interestingly, it looks as though Fabinho might play at right-back today - a position he is familiar with but has not played often for Liverpool - with Alexander-Arnold left on the bench once again, perhaps with one eye on next week.
Andrew Robertson returns from a dead leg on the opposite flank in what looks like a 4-3-3 formation, although Klopp has experimented with a few different systems already this season.
The most notable returnees are Roberto Firmino - who came off the bench to score against Burnley last time out - and
Mohamed Salah, who was also introduced as a sub and produced an assist.
Firmino has a very good record against Bournemouth, having been directly involved in five goals in his last five Premier League appearances against the Cherries, scoring three and setting up two more.
Sadio Mane misses out again due to his cut foot but is deemed fit enough for the bench, while Wijnaldum returns in the middle of the park alongside Keita and Milner, the latter of whom makes his 500th Premier League appearance today - the second-youngest and 13th player overall to reach that landmark.
There could also be a little slice of history for Alisson too, with the Liverpool goalkeeper bidding to become the first player to avoid defeat in his first 16 Premier League games for the club.
In a huge blow to Bournemouth, the player who was expected to ask the most questions over Alisson is absent today, with Callum Wilson being left out after picking up a late injury.
Wilson has both scored and assisted a goal in three different Premier League games this season - no player has managed more - while he has found the back of the net eight times in his 15 league games, already equalled his tally from the whole of last season.
He will be sorely missed today.
Wilson's absence may not just take away his own threat, but that of Ryan Fraser, who has linked up so well with the new England man so far this season.
Ten of Bournemouth's last 11 league goals have either been scored or assisted by either Wilson or Fraser, and the latter has now provided seven assists in the top flight so far this season. No Bournemouth player has ever managed more in a single top-flight campaign.
Fraser will now be looking to strike up a similarly effective partnership with Josh King, who will lead the line this afternoon and has been in decent form himself this season, despite spending a spell out through injury.
King should also get support from the impressive David Brooks arriving from midfield, so even in the absence of Wilson there are plenty of players who could cause problems for Liverpool this afternoon.
Wilson is not the only injury absentee for Bournemouth today, with Lewis Cook having been struck with the devastating news that he will miss the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury.
Those two enforced changes are the only ones Eddie Howe has made from the midweek win over Huddersfield, though, with Stanislas and Surman the men to come in for Wilson and Cook.
Bournemouth were already set to go into this game as underdogs even before they lost those two key players to injury, but
Eddie Howe will still have been delighted with how his side have performed in general this season.
As with every campaign, the Cherries will have begun 2018-19 with their main goal being to stay in the division for another season. After 15 games, they are already more than halfway to the 40-point mark, so things are certainly looking promising in that regard.
Indeed, Bournemouth are right in the mix to be regarded as the best of the rest behind the breakaway top five, and the magnitude of them sitting above Manchester United in the table should not be forgotten considering that just 10 years ago they were bottom of the Football League.
The Cherries are currently seventh in the table and would move up to sixth temporarily if they avoid defeat here, sitting pretty 14 points clear of the bottom three.
Howe's side are eight points and seven places better off than at the same stage of last season, when they sat only five points clear of the relegation zone, but he will know that they cannot afford to rest on that bright start to the campaign.
A recent four-match losing streak would have rammed the point home if Bournemouth had begun to get ahead of themselves, giving them perhaps a timely warning after losing just two of their opening 10 league games this season.
That four-game losing streak came to an end on Tuesday night as Wilson and Fraser both scored one and assisted the other in a 2-1 victory over Huddersfield Town, although it was not an entirely convincing performance from the Cherries.
Still, the most important thing was getting the win to stop the rot, and should they back that up with a shock triumph here then it would be successive league wins for the first time since early October.
The win over Huddersfield was Bournemouth's first at home in the league for more than two months, having gone three without victory before that - including two defeats.
The Cherries would still be sixth in the table if only home form counted, though, having picked up more points and scored more goals in front of their own fans than the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United.
Indeed, Bournemouth have scored in all but one of their eight Premier League home games so far this season - and at least twice in five of those - to help them become the top scorers outside of the league's top five.
In all competitions Howe's side have scored in 10 of their last 11 outings home and away, but they have also conceded in each of their last six, so there is a balance for them to strike. Two more goals scored today, though, would see them reach 100 in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth are in the midst of a very difficult run, though, and things do not look like getting much easier before the end of the year. Having already faced Manchester City and today Liverpool this month, the Cherries must also take on Chelsea - in the EFL Cup - Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United before New Year's Day.
Considering they also faced Manchester United and Arsenal in November, it makes for a rotten run of fixtures, particularly considering they have lost each of their last seven matches against members of the 'big six'.
Liverpool could justifiably claim to be a member of the 'big two' at the moment, with results in midweek establishing a two-horse race for the Premier League title at the moment.
Indeed, Liverpool have produced one of the greatest seasons in the history of English football so far this term, but they have understandably been overshadowed by Manchester City, who have been even better than Jurgen Klopp's side.
The Reds have come in for some criticism due to not winning games in the style they managed last season, but they have amassed 39 points from 15 games, which is their highest-ever tally at this stage of a top-flight season - more even than any of their 18 title-winning teams.
Indeed, only six teams in the entire 130-year history of English top-flight football have ever had a better points tally after 15 games (based on three points for a win), but it just so happens that one of those have managed it this season too.
Liverpool do have the chance to leapfrog Manchester City at the top of the table this afternoon, though, with victory taking them one point above Pep Guardiola's champions for a few hours at least.
City face a difficult trip to Stamford Bridge later today, and having been forced to react to the champions' results with wins over Everton and Burnley in the past week, Liverpool should relish the chance to put the pressure on Guardiola's side for a change.
It should not be overlooked how high the standards are at the top of the Premier League at the moment. Only three teams in the division's history have started a campaign by avoiding defeat in their first 16 games - Arsenal's Invincibles, Manchester United in 2010-11 and Man City last season - but two teams are on the brink of doing it today.
Liverpool themselves have never managed it, but Wednesday's come-from-behind victory over Burnley at Turf Moor leaves them on the brink of a little slice of history.
It is not just Liverpool's points tally which compares favourably to any other team from English top-flight history, but also their defensive record having conceded only six goals in their opening 15 games.
No team has ever conceded fewer at this stage of a top-flight season, and only four teams have ever matched that miserly total - Man Utd in 1985-86, Arsenal in 1990-91, Chelsea in 2004-05 and Chelsea again in 2008-09. Bournemouth fans will still remember their incredible comeback win over Liverpool here two years ago, but this is a much sturdier Reds outfit now.
Including the final game of last season, Liverpool are now unbeaten in 16 Premier League matches - winning 13 of those - and they could equal their club record of 17 without defeat today, which was set in 2008.
The Reds have won their last four league outings since the beginning of November and boast a 100% record against teams outside the top five this term, with their only dropped points coming in draws against Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal.
If there has been a weakness for Liverpool this season then it is their away form, with three wins and three defeats from their last eight on the road, but all of those losses came in the Champions League and they have won six of their eight away league games this term.
Indeed, only Spurs have picked up more Premier League points on their travels this season, although five of the six goals they have conceded have also come away from home.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Vitality Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction!
This fixture usually provides goals, although Liverpool do not ship as many as they have in the past when coming up against Bournemouth. It is a potential banana skin for the visitors today, but we're backing them to come away with all three points as they seem well suited to playing against Bournemouth.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Bournemouth 1-3 Liverpool
This will be the 14th meeting between these two sides, and Bournemouth have only ever won one of the previous 13, drawing three and losing nine.
These Bournemouth supporters will never forget that solitary triumph, though, coming from 2-0 and 3-1 down to secure a dramatic 4-3 win over Liverpool in December 2016.
There were no signs of such a collapse last season, though, with Liverpool scoring seven goals without reply in their two meetings with the Cherries.
Most recently the front three were all on the scoresheet in a 3-0 triumph at Anfield in April, while Liverpool's last visit to this stadium - again in December - saw them run out 4-0 winners with Coutinho, Lovren, Salah and Firmino all getting in on the act.
Liverpool have won four of the six previous Premier League meetings between the two sides, and they appear to be getting the knack of playing against Eddie Howe's side too.
Bournemouth were allowed 43 shots in their first three league games against Liverpool, while facing 47, but in their last three they have had just 20 to Liverpool's 61.
Right, the players are out and we're almost ready for kickoff here! A reminder of the team news before we get started...
BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Daniels; Stanislas, Surman, Brooks, Lerma, Fraser; King
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Fabinho, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Wijnaldum, Keita; Shaqiri, Firmino, Salah
KICKOFF: Here we go! Bournemouth get us underway at the Vitality Stadium!
An early mistake from Alisson as he puts too much on his pass for Van Dijk, gifting possession to Fraser in an advanced position. It is just too wide to really threaten the goal, but Alisson did get away with one there.
Liverpool appear to have settled into this game quite quickly, with the exception of that Alisson mistake. It is an attacking system the visitors have fielded here.
Bournemouth have often made quick starts to games this season, but they are struggling to get hold of the ball at the moment. They are set up for the counter-attack, but Liverpool are controlling things in the opening exchanges.
We thought it might be Fabinho at right-back, but instead it is the versatile Milner who is playing there today. Fabinho is in midfield, with Keita and Wijnaldum flanking him.
Free kick to Liverpool in a dangerous area as Ake stops a chipped pass from Firmino towards Salah, who moments before had collected the ball in what the Bournemouth defence felt was an offside position.
YELLOW CARD! Ake picks up a yellow card for the handball. Further punishment could be forthcoming...
Shaqiri goes for goal, but the wall does its job and deflects it up and behind for a corner.
CHANCE! First glimmer of a chance for Liverpool as Shaqiri dinks a pass over the top for Salah, who gets behind the defence. He cannot quite bring it down properly, though, and then slices a right-footed effort well wide.
YELLOW CARD! Two bookings in the opening 15 minutes for Bournemouth as Lerma is shown yellow for a foul on Fabinho.
Liverpool have enjoyed 74% of the ball in this match so far, which is a reflection of their control over this game. Bournemouth will have expected to see little of the ball, but they haven't been able to spring a counter-attack of note yet either.
Salah races on to Robertson's pass over the top and drops the ball back to Fabinho, who completely slices his long-range effort and is fortunate that it hits a Bournemouth defender to bounce out for a throw.
Almost a chance for Liverpool as Shaqiri floats a pass over to Robertson, who volleys it back inside. Begovic just about gets to the ball in front of Salah, though, and Keita's follow-up effort deflects behind for a corner.
SHOT! First attack of note from Bournemouth as King shrugs off a lacklustre challenge from Fabinho before firing a low cross/shot across the face of goal which dribbles wide of the far post.
CHANCE! Much better from the hosts here! Stanislas cuts inside from the left flank and slides a lovely pass in for Brooks, who tries to sneak his finish in at the near post. Alisson is alert to turn the ball wide, though.
SHOT! The resulting corner is only cleared as far as Surman, but his fires his 20-yard effort high and wide of the target. He struck it well enough, but the accuracy was just lacking.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 LIVERPOOL (MOHAMED SALAH)
GOAL! Liverpool make the breakthrough as Salah capitalises on a bad mistake from Begovic!
Firmino hits a bouncing ball from 25 yards out which is moving, buyt should be pushed away by Begovic. Instead, the Bournemouth keeper can only parry it back out into a dangerous area, where Salah is waiting to tuck the rebound home.
First blood to the visitors!
The Bournemouth fans have not been happy with the officials so far today, and that goal is not likely to improve their mood - Salah looked to be just offside when Firmino hit the initial effort.
Another Liverpool goalscoring record for Mo Salah...
Liverpool seem in control of this match at the moment. Bournemouth, of course, remain in the contest while the deficit is only one, but they have struggled to get going so far today.
Here is that Mohamed Salah opener...
Good pressure from Bournemouth after Robertson loses the ball. A corner is only cleared as far as Stanislas, but his effort is blocked behind for another corner.
Not bad for a man who hasn't quite hit his ludicrous heights from last season!
A bit of a frantic period of the game as both sets of midfielders battle for possession in the middle of the park. Surman slides in an boots the ball out, but it took a deflection and will be a corner.
This is a good spell for Bournemouth here as they keep Liverpool under sustained pressure high up the field. The blustery conditions are making their crosses into the box even more difficult to deal with.
Milner tries to make the most of those conditions by swinging a corner right onto the head of Begovic, but the Bournemouth keeper deals with it well.
Good goalkeeping from Alisson here as Milner's horrendously sliced clearance swirls towards goal. The keeper charges off his line and heads the ball away on the edge of his own box, beating King to it.
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 LIVERPOOL
Liverpool go into the break with the lead, then, and it is a deserved one for the Reds after a first half in which they dominated possession.
Bournemouth are still in this game with the one-goal deficit, but they have been disappointing so far and Eddie Howe will want to see a lot more from his side in the coming 45 minutes.
The only goal of the game so far came after 25 minutes, although Bournemouth will justifiably feel hard done by as Salah should have been flagged offside before tucking the rebound home.
Even so, it was an avoidable goal from the home side's point of view, with Begovic parrying Firmino's initial long-range effort out into a dangerous area. Salah was alert and followed in to tuck his finish past the keeper.
Chances have been few and far between aside from that opening goal, with the best of them probably falling to Bournemouth despite their general lack of quality on the ball so far today.
Brooks has forced a smart save from Alisson at the near post, while King and Surman have also threatened. Liverpool, meanwhile, can only really point to a sliced Salah effort for their only other opening despite seeing so much of the ball.
Liverpool have controlled this game without ever really getting out of second gear, but they will want that second goal to give them a cushion.
The Reds are a lot better at controlling games now than they have been in the past, but a one-goal lead is never truly safe in football. An early goal in the second half would be exactly what Klopp wants.
KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway for the second half!
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-2 LIVERPOOL (MOHAMED SALAH)
GOAL! I said it's what Liverpool wanted, and it is exactly what they have got as Salah doubles his side's lead and his personal tally!
Firmino gives the ball to the Egyptian, who only has Ake separating him from Begovic. Steve Cook fails with an attempted trip from behind, with Salah keeping his footing before advancing to the edge of the box and picking out the bottom corner.
It is a long way back for Bournemouth now. Liverpool have been so miserly in defence this term and it is very difficult to see them letting a two-goal lead slip here.
CHANCE! Some slick passing from Bournemouth creates a chance as Fraser whips a low cross into the box. King gets in front of his man at the near post and beats Alisson to the ball before going down. There is a shout for a penalty against the trailing leg of Alisson, but it is also a good chance which has gone begging for Bournemouth as King is unable to get his shot away.
Concern over Cook here as he catches an inadvertent kick from Salah right on the ankle and needs treatment. He looks in some pain here!
I've just seen a replay of Cook's challenge on Salah just before the goal, when he tried to bring the winger down, and Salah did brilliantly to stay on his feet. Cook scraped right down his Achilles, but Salah only had scoring on his mind.
Indeed, you have watch it for yourself here...
Beautiful football from Liverpool down the left, drawing the 'Oles' from the away fans. It ends with Shaqiri dinking the ball over for Salah, who swivels on his volley and fires over from an offside position.
Daniels swings a cross into the box, but there is a lack of support in the middle and the home fans roar at the players to get up there. Bournemouth look to be short of belief at the moment.
Liverpool are playing some lovely football at the moment. They will still want one more goal to make sure of this win, but they have played very well today.
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Double change for Liverpool here as Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana replace Shaqiri and Keita.
BOURNEMOUTH SUB: Bournemouth also make a change with Lys Mousset replacing Brooks.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-3 LIVERPOOL (STEVE COOK, OWN GOAL)
GOAL! Game over now, and it is a horrible one for Steve Cook as he joins Salah on the scoresheet!
Robertson whips a cross into the box which Cook has to try to deal with, but he somehow backheel flicks it into his own net. At the other end you'd say it was a moment of genius, but like his teammate Lerma a few weeks ago it is a wonder goal at the wrong end!
YELLOW CARD! Fabinho goes into the book for a late challenge on Lerma.
SAVE! Stanislas whips the resultant free kick towards the top corner and it is a brilliant effort, but Alisson makes it look easy as he plucks it out of the air.
A really good challenge sees Bournemouth win the ball back inside the Liverpool half and it all opens up for King, but he chooses to pass it instead of going for goal himself.
Just 15 minutes remaining in this match now and Liverpool are in cruise control. Might Klopp choose to rest Firmino or Salah soon with Napoli and Manchester United to come next week?
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-4 LIVERPOOL (MOHAMED SALAH)
GOAL! Incredible from Salah, who completes his hat-trick to add icing to Liverpool's cake here!
The Egyptian shows incredible pace to beat Cook to the ball, leaving him clean through on goal. He takes the ball past Begovic, but then cuts back and beats the keeper again for good measure before dribbling the ball closer to goal and poking it past two defenders on the line. Outrageous from Salah!
Liverpool are going top of the table in some style today, then, and they have really made a statement here ahead of Man City's away game against Chelsea later.
SHOT! Daniels tries a consolation with a powerful drive from range, but it is always rising and flies over the crossbar.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Salah will see out the game! Firmino comes off for Liverpool's final change, being replaced by Jordan Henderson.
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: A double change from the hosts here as Diego Rico and Tyrone Mings replace Daniels and Stanislas.
Liverpool are not done just yet. They are going in search of more goals now and Bournemouth are just holding out for full time now.
CHANCE! Another chance for the visitors as Robertson swings a cross into the box which Wijnaldum can only nod well wide when he should have done better.
Painful one for Lallana here as he is left bloodied and needing treatment.
Liverpool may need to see out the rest of this game with 10 men as Lallana's head is a mess at the moment. There is blood everywhere.
There will be five minutes of added time at the end of this match.
All eyes will turn to Stamford Bridge this evening now. How will Man City respond to what has been a very impressive display from Liverpool?
FULL TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-4 LIVERPOOL
Over to you, Pep.
Liverpool move top of the Premier League table with a resounding 4-0 victory over Bournemouth which sees Mohamed Salah steal the show with a hat-trick. The first may not have stood with VAR in place, but the second two were really good solo efforts and Bournemouth had no answer for him.
The other goal came via a Steve Cook own goal as he turned the ball past Begovic in some style.
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early Premier League kickoff as Liverpool thrash Bournemouth courtesy of Mo Salah's hat-trick, moving top of the table in the process. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
