AFC Bournemouth
Head coach Scott Parker believes AFC Bournemouth’s Premier League credentials should not be judged by their results against the top-flight’s big guns.
The Cherries kicked off their campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory against Aston Villa before losing to champions Manchester City and Arsenal, the Gunners going top following their 3-0 win at Vitality Stadium.
Parker’s team face another tough test on Saturday when they meet Liverpool at Anfield, the Reds finishing last season as runners-up in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
While the Cherries famously beat Jurgen Klopp’s team in a classic at Vitality Stadium in December 2016 and drew 2-2 at Anfield four months later, Liverpool have won the other eight encounters in the top flight.
Asked at his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Merseyside whether a pragmatic attitude was needed during a tough run of fixtures, Parker replied: “When the fixture list came out, we knew it was going to be a challenge and really tough.
“I think everyone could clearly see that. They are probably not games that are really going to judge us this season.
“While we want to be competitive and try to take points in those moments, I think it’s fair to say we need to try to get through this period and then, hopefully, we can really show exactly where we are and where the levels are.
“While we want to go to Anfield and play the Manchester Citys, Arsenals and all these and try to assert ourselves and get results, sometimes those challenges and asks are too big for us just through sheer quality in certain moments and the levels of where we are.
“Once it settles a little bit, I think we will probably get a real idea of exactly how competitive we can be this season.”
