Bournemouth v Liverpool: Live matchday blog
Liverpool turned in a commanding display to record a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth. Goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah secured three more Premier League points for the Reds.
And here's how the top of the table looks...
The story of the game, as told by Opta...
Full Time
Bournemouth 0-3 Liverpool
Liverpool extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points with a commanding victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
First-half goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita set the Reds on their way before Mohamed Salah wrapped it up with a slick finish in the second period.
Chance!
Henderson has a free-kick tipped around the post by a flying save from Ramsdale.
Two minutes of added time to be played...
Shaqiri stands up a cross towards the edge of the area, which Jones side-foots over.
That was nearly the moment he dreamt of.
Substitution
Shaqiri is on for Oxlade-Chamberlain for the final knockings.
Now Firmino has an effort blocked inside the box.
Chaos inside the Bournemouth area almost results in a fourth goal for the Reds, but the hosts manage to scramble it away.
Substitution
Here he comes - Curtis Jones takes the place of Andy Robertson.
Curtis Jones is being readied for a Premier League debut.
Salah takes on four defenders inside the box from Henderson's hoist forward.
His eventual shot is parried by Ramsdale.
Van Dijk blocks an effort from Danjuma just inside the box.
Substitution
Bournemouth need to make a further change. Callum Wilson pulls up when chasing a ball forward and can't continue. Dan Gosling takes his place.
Substitution
Another change for the Cherries - Billing off, Cook on.
Alexander-Arnold finds space on the corner of the area from Henderson's pass and lashes a left-footer wide of the near post.
Goal
GOAL!!! MOHAMED SALAH!!!!
Mohamed Salah loves scoring at the Vitality Stadium - and he's continued his run this afternoon.
It's a goal of wonderful slimplicity as Keita wins the ball back and slides a pass through for the Egyptian King, who steers across Ramsdale and into the corner.
3-0 now.
Milner fizzes a low ball across the six-yard box, but no-one in white is able to get there to turn it over the line.
Keita's snap-volley from the edge of the box is kept out by Ramsdale.
Kick-Off
Off we go again...
Bournemouth re-start the game.
Here's how Opta rate the first-half numbers...
Half Time
Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool
Goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita have Liverpool in control at the halfway stage at the Vitality Stadium.
Chance!
It should be 3-0.
Firmino flicks a corner across goal and Salah arrives at the back post, but can only scoop over the bar.
Goal
GOAL!!!! NABY KEITA!!!!
Liverpool double their lead with another wonderfully worked goal.
Keita lays the ball inside to Salah, who is just inside the box. The Egyptian holds it up before back-heeling into the path of Keita's run.
Our No.8 takes a touch to steady himself before prodding beyond Ramsdale and make it 2-0.
Chance!
Alexander-Arnold picks out Firmino, who side-foots goalwards first time. Mepham blocks it when a goal seemed certain.
Substitution
Liverpool are forced into a change themselves now.
Lovren hobbles off and Alexander-Arnold comes on to replace him.
It'll mean Gomez moving to centre-back alongside Van Dijk.
Yellow Card
Gomez goes into the book for pulling back Solanke after he'd lost the ball to his former teammate
Liverpool looking for a second and FIrmino's low shot has to be kept out by Ramsdale.
Goal
GOAL!!!! ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN!!!
Liverpool are in front and Jordan Henderson has claimed an incredible assist.
The skipper pings a pass 50 yards into the path of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's run in behind.
It drops right on the boot of the No.15, who touches it beyond Ramsdale first time without it touching the ground.
Lovely stuff.
Ake can't continue, so Jack Simpson is sent on to replace the Bournemouth defender.
Ake slides in to stop Salah from breaking into space inside the box from Keita's pass.
The Cherries' centre-back looks like he's hurt himself in the process, however.
Vital challenge from Van Dijk prevents Solanke from getting a clear run at goal after Fraser had reclaimed the ball from Keita and tried to send him through.
Salah glances a near-post header goalwards from Gomez's cross. Ramsdale collects.
Danjuma tries to scoop Fraser's centre beyond Alisson, but he doesn't connect properly under the attention of Robertson.
Milner flashes a low one across goal and wide of the far post from inside the area.
Robertson springs a ball over the top for Salah, who tries to back-heel for Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Bournemouth manage to recover and avert the danger.
The first chance for the home team comes via ex-Red Solanke, who runs at Lovren and cuts into the area.
However, the defender manages to block his eventual shot and deflect it behind.
The ball almost breaks for Oxlade-Chamberlain in space inside the box, but an attempted challenge from Francis forces him wide and the opportunity is gone.
First shot of the game comes via Salah, who tries to hook an effort around Ramsdale from Gomez's pass, but it's too close to the 'keeper.
Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain get in each other's way on the edge of the area as a shooting opportunity presents itself.
Gomez hoists in a cross from the right but Mepham heads it away.
Liverpool have had all of the ball in the opening exchanges.
Kick-Off
And of we go...
James Milner starts the game at the Vitality Stadium.
Come on you Reds!
Here come the teams...
Jürgen Klopp, na, naa, na, na, na...
Opus' Live is Life is reverberating around the Vitality Stadium as I type.
Warm-up time...
AXA - official club partner and training kit sponsor
Afternoon, lads...
Inside the Reds' dressing room
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool’s teamsheet shows seven changes from the midweek win over Everton at Anfield.
One of which sees Alisson Becker return in goal following suspension, while there are also berths for Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana miss out due to minor knocks, so Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones make the substitutes’ bench.
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Adrian, Mane, Shaqiri, Origi, Jones, Alexander-Arnold, Elliott.
Ox on pre-match media duties
Scene setting...
The Reds' quarters
A crisp December day on the south coast
Tale of the tape
Take a look through the stats behind each side's Premier League season so far...
More changes?
Klopp made five alterations to his XI for the Merseyside derby in midweek, and yesterday he spoke about the possibility of further rotation for the clash with Bournemouth.
"We have to see who we can use, especially when it's three days between two games," said the boss.
"Wednesday-Saturday is always a massive challenge and we have to be sensible and sensitive in the same moment with the decision-making about the line-up because Bournemouth will be really demanding, they will ask for everything.
"We have to again be really spot on, intense, all that stuff. They are not happy with their situation so we need a good intensity in that game again. That's what we try to make sure with the line-up, but then still the boys have to do the job and hopefully they can do it."
Bournemouth prep
Our photographer was at Melwood for Thursday's pre-Bournemouth training session and you can take a look in the gallery below...
Sadio won't stop
It has been quite a week for Sadio Mane.
Named fourth in the Ballon d'Or ranking on Monday night, the Senegal international was Man of the Match with a thrilling display in the win against Everton and then collected LFC's Standard Chartered Player of the Month award for November.
"The boys still have a lot to show and hopefully this season we can show it," he told Liverpoolfc.com.
"I am very proud and happy to be named fourth in the world. I am looking forward and why not No.1, maybe?!
"I will do everything possible to win the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool and we'll see what's going to happen."
Click here to read more from Mane on today's clash with Bournemouth, his fitness and Harry Wilson.
Did you know?
This will be the first time since May 2007 that Liverpool have played at 3pm for a third consecutive Saturday
Last season
Klopp's men claimed a pair of impressive wins over Bournemouth in 2018-19. See the best of those two victories in our highlights packages below...
Stat attack
- Mohamed Salah has scored in four successive meetings with Bournemouth - the only Liverpool player ever to achieve the feat
- No Reds substitute has yet scored against today's opponents
- Divock Origi has bagged four goals in his last three Liverpool starts
- Sadio Mane has scored 30 times for the club in 2019 - one of only 11 players to do so for the Reds in a calendar year
Missing Men
A much-changed Liverpool XI won at Bournemouth in April 2016 - can you remember the full line-up from that day? Click the graphic to reveal the answers...
Team news
Liverpool welcome back Alisson Becker today after his one-match suspension and, as of Friday lunchtime, had no fresh injury concerns to consider.
Adam Smith was the latest addition to Bournemouth's injury list, which also includes Steve Cook and Joshua King.
Harry Wilson, who has scored six league goals for the Cherries this season, is ineligible against his parent club.
Last time out
Five goals, the Merseyside derby spoils and a new club record. It was a brilliant Wednesday night for Liverpool...
Top of the table
A reminder of how the Premier League summit looks ahead of round 16...
The manager's thoughts
Catch up with Klopp's pre-match press conference - including team news, Harry Wilson, Bournemouth and more - below...
Back to it
Within 72 hours of their pulsating 5-2 Merseyside derby victory, Liverpool are in Premier League action again with a trip to Bournemouth.
Can Jürgen Klopp's side consolidate their lead at the top of the table?
Stay right here to follow all of the build-up, action and reaction.
