Sports Blog 28/10/2015: League Cup 4th Round Preview – Liverpool vs Bournemouth, Wednesday 28th October 2015

With Arsenal and Chelsea both crashing out of the League Cup last night to ‘lesser’ competition, can a similar scalping happen when Bournemouth visit Liverpool at 7.45pm on Sky Sports 1?

So far the appointment of Jurgen Klopp hasn’t exactly revolutionised things at Anfield, with 3 draws in 3 under the German’s nascent tenure. In fact, that trio of results takes Liverpool’s form sheet to 7 1-1 draws in their last 9 games, a pattern that is going to be even more difficult to break out of with Christian Benteke joining Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings on the Reds’ injuries list. Also absent will be James Milner after collecting 5 bookings so far this season.

This could give a chance for summer-signing Roberto Firmino to shine, who goes into Wednesday night at a Super Mega PGM spread of 16-20. Klopp is seemingly a big fan of the former Hoffenheim midfielder, calling him at points last season the ‘best player in the Bundesliga’. Klopp will also want more from Philippe Coutinho, sitting at 6/1 to score first, who has struggled to match the rich vein of form he found in his first 2 campaigns with the club.



Whilst Liverpool are wallowing in mediocrity, Bournemouth have suffered a sharp wake-up call since joining the ranks of England’s elite for the first time. Losing 6 of their 10 Premier League games (including a 1-0 defeat to the Reds back in August), the Cherries dismal start to the season culminated in back to back 5-1 losses (against Manchester City and Tottenham) across the last 2 weekends. They have (just about) fared better in the League Cup, however; the Cherries beat Hartlepool 4-0 in the 2nd round before being pushed to penalties by former Championship rivals Preston North End after drawing 2-2 by the end of extra time.

Yet on top of their evident issues at the back, a long-term injury to Bournemouth’s top scorer Callum Wilson at the end of September has seen their woes extend to their frontline. One beneficiary of Wilson’s absence, however, could be Yann Kermorgant. So prolific last season, the French forward hasn’t appeared much for Bournemouth since they were promoted, but did score the opener in the Cherries’ victory over Hartlepool. He may be given a similar chance to make his mark against Liverpool, even if it is more through necessity than Eddie Howe’s choice, going into Wednesday night at 17/2 to score first with a Super Mega PGM of 12-16.

Both managers could do with a win this Wednesday evening, even if it is for very different reasons. Our Spreadex traders and clients alike think that honour will go to the suave German newbie, offering a Liverpool/Bournemouth Goal Supremacy spread of 1.05-1.25 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.85-3.05.