Arne Slot admits that he did not expect Liverpool to lead the Premier League table in his debut season with such a long way, while preparing for the surprising Bournemouth package on Saturday.
Liverpool carries MatchDay 24 Six Points in Vrij of the second placed Arsenal, with a match in hand to meet Buren Everton.
The OPTA Supercomputer gives Liverpool a chance of 91.8% to lift the Premier League trophy for the second time this campaign, and Slot hopes that this title Tilt is the first of many.
In an interview for the football focus of BBC Sport, Slot also outlined the reason behind the lack of transfer activity of Liverpool in January.
“You don't think we will have so many points after 20 games and I didn't expect us to be the top with the margin we have,” said Slot.
“It is always nice to be there, but nobody expected this. I am the last person who expected [Manchester] City to have such a bad run.
“Liverpool always has to compete for a competition title – we always have to compete for the Champions League. I hope I can keep the club at that level.
“I know that people sometimes question this because they have not seen us do much on the transfer market in the summer and now also in the winter. There is a reason for that – because we are happy with the team.”
Next: a trip to the south coast in the @premierleague #bouliv pic.twitter.com/9YG3IVWMCE
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 30, 2025
Liverpool is unbeaten in 18 Premier League matches, but upcoming opponents Bournemouth (undefeated in 11) are also good for one of the three longest running runs in the competition (Arsenal also 13 without defeat).
Since the start of MatchDay 13 on November 29, no side has won more Premier League points than the Cherries (25), who crushed Nottingham Forest last week 5-0.
In the midst of a push over a Champions League Push, coach Andoni Iraola will keep taking a step at the same time.
“I don't think we're going to change. We take the game per game,” Iraola told BBC Sport. “We have a more difficult one against Liverpool next week.
“We are good to go while we are quite thin with numbers, so we will regroup a little and try to restore at least another player. I will not change the approach we follow.”
Players to watch
Bournemouth – Tyler Adams
Among players who have played for at least 500 minutes, this season Adams made the most tackles (4.8) and intercepts every 90 minutes (2.7) of each Premier League player.
Bournemouth has won 63% of the matches that he started this period (five of the eight) and scored 2.8 goals per match, compared to a profit percentage of 40% and 1.3 goals per match when he does not start.
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah
Salah has scored 19 Premier League goals this season and another strike gives him his fifth 20-goal season in the competition, something that only Alan Shearer (seven times), Thierry Henry (five), Sergio Aguero (six) and Harry Kane ( six) have reached earlier.
He is also only one goal (176) behind Frank Lampard (177) in the top scorers of all time.
Match forecast – Liverpool Win
Bournemouth earned four points from their first four Premier League matches against Liverpool (one victory, one draw, two losses), but has since earned only three of their last 11 (one victory, 10 defeats).
The cherries also scored more than twice as many goals in the first four of those matches (seven) than they have against the Reds in the last 11 (three).
In the meantime, Liverpool has not scored in one of their 15 Premier League meetings with Bournemouth, with at least three goals in 10 of these 15 games.
Bournemouth (who finished 12th last season), have already defeated Man City and Arsenal in the Vitality Stadium this season.
Three nominations in the #pl Awards for January
Proud of everyone for a great month pic.twitter.com/7mgjh4rngs
– AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) January 30, 2025
The last Premier League team that won at home against each of the top three games of the previous season-in the lower half self-was Blackburn Rovers in 2005-06.
However, Liverpool has only lost one of their last eight Premier League matches against one side that arrives at an undefeated series of at least 11 games (four wins, three draw), with 4-1 at home to City in February 2021.
While the cherries should do a fight, the League leaders are favorites for the victory.
Opta wins probability
Bournemouth – 25.3%
Liverpool – 51.5%
Drawing – 23.2%
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