AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be looking to make further progress when they meet nine-time winners Liverpool in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off).
The Cherries booked a date with the competition record-holders after seeing off Championship opposition Swansea City and Stoke City in the previous two rounds.
Liverpool, who have also been runners-up on four occasions, last lifted the trophy when they beat Chelsea on penalties in the final in 2021/22.
Jürgen Klopp’s team set up a trip to Vitality Stadium after coming from behind to see off Championship leaders Leicester City in the third round at the end of September.
Kasey McAteer gave the Foxes an early lead at Anfield before second-half goals from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota saw the Reds run out 3-1 victors.
The Cherries have met Liverpool twice in recent seasons in the League Cup, exiting in the latter stages on both occasions.
In 2014/15, Brendan Rodgers’ Reds triumphed 3-1 at Vitality Stadium in the quarter-finals with Dan Gosling on target for the Cherries who led the Championship at the time.
The following season, Klopp (pictured below in October 2015) earned his first win as Liverpool boss when Nathaniel Clyne’s maiden goal for the club knocked out the Cherries at Anfield in the fourth round.
Ahead of Wednesday’s clash, afcb.co.uk caught up with Paul Gorst who covers the fortunes of the Reds for the Liverpool Echo.
LIVERPOOL PROFILE
Founded: 1892
Ground: Anfield
Nicknames: The Reds
Record appearances: Ian Callaghan – 857 games (1959-1978)
Record goalscorer: Ian Rush – 346 goals in 660 games
Manager: Jürgen Klopp (appointed October 2015)
Club captain: Virgil van Dijk
League position: Fourth
Leading goalscorer: Mohamed Salah (ten in all competitions)
Last game: Liverpool 3 Nottingham Forest 0 (Premier League)
afcb.co.uk: Give us your take on the third-round 3-1 win against Leicester?
PG: It was a fairly straightforward game once they had got over the sucker-punch of their early concession.
Curtis Jones played as the hybrid right-back on the night which was something of a surprise and, other than the threat of Kasey McAteer on Leicester’s left in the spaces vacated by Jones, when he moved into midfield it was a fairly comfortable evening.
afcb.co.uk: How is the season going in general?
PG: It’s been going really well.
Just the one defeat so far, at Spurs, when they played most of the game with ten men and about 20 minutes with nine – and even then it needed a 96th-minute own goal to lose.
There’s a freshness to Liverpool this season and Jürgen Klopp has a spring in his step once more. They have started superbly.
Anfield is a fortress with eight straight wins in all competitions and their front options mean they will score goals most games.
afcb.co.uk: How does Jürgen Klopp approach the Carabao Cup in terms of team selection?
PG: As always, Klopp will ring the changes for this one and it is likely 19-year-old Luke Chambers will play at left-back given Kostas Tsimikas is now deputising for Andy Robertson.
Young Jarell Quansah (pictured above) might feature at centre-back but Liverpool will still have a fearsome front line, whoever plays.
With Ben Doak injured, Mohamed Salah might even be involved and I expect Cody Gakpo to start.
Summer signing Wataru Endo will likely anchor the midfield. Harvey Elliott may be recalled and Ryan Gravenberch might be given the chance to build on his encouraging week or so.
afcb.co.uk: The Reds have three away games in nine days – against the Cherries in the Carabao Cup, Luton in the Premier League and Toulouse in the Europa League – how would most supporters prioritise these games?
PG: The Premier League game is definitely the priority.
Liverpool are flying in the Europa League and will qualify with two more points from three games so changes will be made in France, as they will be at the Vitality.
But I think this is more of a priority than the European game given the Reds are almost home and hosed in Group E.
The strength of the squad now though means there will be some quality on show in all three.
afcb.co.uk: Who is their rising star?
PG: It’s undoubtedly Ben Doak but he’s injured so Luke Chambers (pictured above) will be one to watch at left-back. He will play in the cup games to give Tsimikas a rest.
The teenager is comfortable in possession and capable of playing centrally too.
Sixteen-year-old Trey Nyomi has been training with the seniors lately, they have high hopes for him.
afcb.co.uk: Are any key players either injured or suspended against the Cherries?
PG: Thiago Alcantara (pictured above) and Stefan Bajcetic are both absent.
Luis Diaz surely won’t feature as he awaits updates from Colombia after his father was shockingly kidnapped over the weekend.
Andy Robertson had shoulder surgery last week.
afcb.co.uk: How do you see the game panning out and what’s your score prediction?
PG: It depends how seriously Bournemouth take this game or whether they view the weekend as a bigger match?
If both make sweeping changes, I think Liverpool will have the stronger XI but a full-strength Cherries could see back-to-back victories against Klopp’s men on the south coast.
Penalties, anyone?
You can follow Paul on X (formerly Twitter) – @ptgorst
Officials: John Brooks (referee), Lee Betts (assistant), Akil Howson (assistant), James Linington (fourth official).
