Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool: Reds eviscerate pathetic Cherries to claim top four spot

Full-time: Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool

It certainly wasn't the thriller of last year, but Liverpool will be elated to come away from the south coast with three points with only three quarters of the Fab Four in action.

Sadio Mane had the afternoon off as Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino put Bournemouth to the sword - with a little help from Dejan Lovren - as Eddie Howe's men floundered in the mess they helped create.

Bournemouth are now one point off the drop zone, with Manchester City to come, while Liverpool are sitting pretty in the top four as they prepare to face Arsenal.

Bournemouth fans leaving in their droves as we enter stoppage time at the Vitality Stadium. Their side have been woeful at both ends of the pitch, and have been made to pay by an intent but profligate Liverpool, who could have had six or seven.

Ings almost makes an immediate impact as Lallana finds him in space in the area. The forward, ravaged horribly by injury in recent years, could only find the side netting.

Final change for Liverpool now - Coutinho, who just flashed an effort past Begovic's post, has been replaced by Ings, another former Bournemouth star.

Robertson just threatened to break the match out of the lull phase it inevitably entered, but the Scotsman's burst was dealt with by Bournemouth.

Coutinho then receives the ball in a dangerous area and finds Oxlade-Chamberlain out wide, but the former Arsenal man's drive only troubles the weary fans behind the goal.

Second substitution for Liverpool, as Firmino makes way for Solanke, who will hope to notch his first goal for the Reds against a defence that isn't exactly the meanest.

Lallana's first involvement? A late tackle on Ibe and a booking for his troubles.

Bournemouth now have a free-kick in a dangerous area, but it's cleared easily.

A hugely encouraging substitution for Liverpool, as Adam Lallana comes on in place of Mohamed Salah, who now has 20 goals already this season.

Robertson lays the ball off to Coutinho, who looks up and places the ball plum on Firmino's head. Liverpool did not have to work hard for that at all.

GOAL! Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool (Firmino)

Surman inexplicably gives the ball away in his own area but Liverpool try to overcomplicate things in search of the perfect goal.

That is until Firmino scores, of course.

Bournemouth win a corner, but it doesn't beat the first man. Mignolet then tries to spring a counterattack as Salah and Coutinho charge, but the official incorrectly rules for offside.

It's Oxlade-Chamberlain turn to try and find the net, but his efforts hits the post, not the back of the net.

At the other end, Defoe's smart shot is saved by Mignolet as the Cherries look to lay a glove on their visitors.

Bournemouth's final change has been made, with Cook coming on for the injured Daniels.

Salah looks to exploit his new opponent Ake, who has been shifted to left-back in Daniels' absence, but he ends up running the ball out of play.

A miscommunication between Begovic and Francis almost gifts Firmino with an open goal, but the Brazilian can't make the most of the mishap.

A blunder from Ake almost presents Salah with a chance to make it four but the ball didn't fall kindly for the Egyptian.

Liverpool come again through Coutinho, but his through ball is cut out by Ake.

Second half now underway. Bournemouth have made a change - Fraser has come on for Pugh.

Not bad that, in fairness.

Can anyone stop Mohamed Salah?

Half-time: Bournemouth 0-3 Liverpool

All too easy for Jurgen Klopp's side, as Bournemouth are booed off at half-time. Coutinho, Lovren and Salah have ended the contest before half-time, as the Cherries pay for their naivety and the Reds reap their deserved rewards.

That man, again.

Oxlade-Chamberlain feeds Salah, who dances in and out of Daniels, takes a touch to better his angle, and plunders his umpteenth goal of the campaign. That surely ends the match as a contest, before half-time.

GOAL! Bournemouth 0-3 Liverpool (Salah)

Another big chance for Bournemouth goes begging as Daniels' cutback is miskicked by Stanislas.

At the other end, a marvellous one-two between Salah and Coutinho cuts Bournemouth apart, but Begovic stays strong and keeps the score at 2-0.

A major let-off for Liverpool!

Defoe merely wanders through the heart of the Reds defence, is found easily, but his shot cannons back off the inside of the post. Where was Klavan? You'd expect a man of Defoe's calibre to bury such an opportunity, but it's still 2-0.

A slip from Klavan allows Bournemouth to apply some pressure of their own but Pugh's cross can't find a man in red and black. Liverpool's intense attacking play has been curbed in recent minutes, but Bournemouth are not looking overly dangerous.

Things go from bad to worse for Bournemouth - King has to come off. Stanislas his replacement.

The moment Coutinho opened the scoring.

GOAL! Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool (Lovren)

A short corner from Coutinho is miraculously kept alive by Firmino, and Lovren bravely heads into score from close range. 2-0, and again, no more than what Liverpool deserve.

Liverpool are cutting Bournemouth open at will. Henderson's third man run causes all kinds of problems. He cuts back for Firmino, whose shot is blocked for a corner.

Liverpool go in search of a second as they win the ball high up the pitch. Oxlade-Chamberlain finds Salah, who cuts inside Daniels, but his effort goes over.

Coutinho jinks into the box and away from a couple of challenges to open the scoring for the Reds. Stunning from the Brazilian, and no more than what Liverpool deserve.

GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Liverpool (Coutinho)

Former Liverpool star Ibe registers Bournemouth's first shot on target with a long-range effort that is meat and drink for Mignolet.

At the other end, Coutinho scores incredibly.

Liverpool on top on the south coast.

Bournemouth enjoy a rare foray forward as King wins a free-kick out of Lovren, who takes issue with the Norwegian.

The free-kick comes to nothing as Liverpool win a set piece of their through Defoe, who handled the ball.

Salah then tries his luck as he races away from Daniels. He makes the room for himself and looks to pick out the top corner, but the ball flies over.

Coutinho cracks the inside of the post with his effort from the free-kick! Begovic was completely stranded and beaten but for the woodwork. The Reds are very much on top.

Ake receives a yellow card for tripping Firmino as he looked to burst into the box. Bournemouth gave the ball away very cheaply in their own half, which forced the Dutchman to act.

Daniels intercepts Oxlade-Chamberlain's pass and plays a long through ball for Defoe, but Lovren manages to quell any lingering danger.

Daniels then misjudges a header and allows Salah to stretch his legs, but the full-backs rectifies his error. Liverpool applying plenty of early pressure so far.

Liverpool's first effort on goal comes from Coutinho, who flies through the air and heads well over.

The Reds come forward again through Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gomez, whose cross-cum-shot evades both post and person.

We are underway at the Vitality Stadium. Liverpool immediately in possession with Robertson, whose long ball does not find Firmino.

Both teams are in the tunnel now, kick off just moments away.

Less than 10 minutes until kick-off. A final reminder of today's teams:

Bournemouth: Begovic, Smith, Aké, Daniels, Francis, Lewis Cook, Ibe, Pugh, Surman, Defoe, King.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Gomez, Lovren, Klavan, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Coutinho, Firmino.

Some pre-match thoughts from both managers.

Klopp: "I took him [Salah] off a few times, he's a quick recoverer, we see how quick we recovers thanks to the data and we never have an issue"

Howe: "It's [rotation] something we've down over this period, we've had a couple of knocks behind the scenes, I hope it doesn't disturb the balance of the team."

Some pre-match thoughts from Eddie Howe:

"I think we have a lot in common [with Liverpool's style]... our first thought is always to be positive, take the game to the opposition and to be brave in all aspects of our play.

"I don't think we should change from that, we have tried the other way and it doesn't suit us."

Just 30 minutes until kick-off. A reminder of today's teams:

Bournemouth: Begovic, Smith, Aké, Daniels, Francis, Lewis Cook, Ibe, Pugh, Surman, Defoe, King.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Gomez, Lovren, Klavan, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Coutinho, Firmino.

Jurgen Klopp has told of his reasoning behind the quartet of changes he has made to his side:

"With the players we have here, we have no physical issues. The whole squad is absolutely OK. Of course, at home the boys who are not here have a few problems. It's the group we could choose," said Klopp.

"Now it's about our game, it's about what we need to bring on the pitch because of the opponent; [Bournemouth] have a clear structure, a 4-4-2, a good mix between pretty direct and playing football. That's what we thought about.

"The line-up for us is important of course, but not that important because the players are all good. I have a luxury problem, if you want, in this moment."

So Jurgen Klopp reprises his role as Yoko Ono by breaking up the Fab Four again, but Mane's omission for the Ox isn't the only change the German has made.

Mignolet is in for Karius, Gomez replaces Alexander-Arnold while Can comes in for captain Henderson.

Young Lewis Cook starts for Bournemouth having battled to establish himself in the first-team this season. Jermain Defoe leads the line with Josh King in behind, while Pugh, Surman and Ibe are all handed starts.

A host of changes made for the clash at the Vitality Stadium. Klopp makes four, Howe five, but the biggest change is certainly the absence of Mane for Oxlade-Chamberlain.

SUBSTITUTES

Bournemouth: Boruc, Cook, Gosling, Arter, Fraser, Stanislas, Afobe.

Liverpool: Karius, Milner, Mane, Lallana, Alexander-Arnold, Ings, Solanke.

TEAM NEWS

Bournemouth's starting line-up in text form:

Begovic, Smith, Aké, Daniels, Francis, Lewis Cook, Ibe, Pugh, Surman, Defoe, King.

TEAM NEWS

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool's starting line-up in text form:

Mignolet, Gomez, Lovren, Klavan, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Coutinho, Firmino

TEAM NEWS

Mohamed Salah is the man of the moment in the Premier League right now.

The Egyptian is the top scorer in the division having arrived at Liverpool from Roma in the summer, and Jurgen Klopp has thanked his scouting team for their persistence over signing the electric attacker.

"Our scouting department did a fantastic job around Mo," Klopp was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. "They just didn't get out of our ears about him.

"It was, '100 per cent he is ready, he is ready'. They did a great job, absolutely."

Some words from Charlie Daniels:

"Liverpool have improved as a team from the one we beat last season. We know we have to be at our best but we enjoy these games and will be looking to win."

Some Bournemouth players are on a disciplinary tightrope this afternoon.

Steve Cook and Harry Arter are on four bookings, one more would see them miss the Cherries' next match.

Liverpool have no yellow card concerns to worry themselves with.

Should Liverpool proceed with caution today?

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is right to rotate his squad ahead of a hectic schedule to keep his best players fresh for the second half of the season, former Manchester United defender Phil Neville has said.

"With the way he plays, he has to rotate," Neville told Sky Sports. "I actually agree with what he is doing. I think he did take a little bit of a risk on Sunday against Everton. They dominated the game, then Everton got the penalty and got the draw.

"Then, against West Brom, Klopp played his strongest team and they also drew. You are damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is hoping to draw upon last season's thrilling late win over Liverpool for inspiration ahead of Jurgen Klopp's side's return to the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries recovered from 3-1 down to win 4-3 against the Reds with Nathan Ake netting in the 93rd minute to complete a famous win on the south coast.

"We have good memories from last year, from both games," he said, according to the official Bournemouth website. "We competed in both and the game here will live long in the memory for the character shown by the players. The last 20 minutes is what I was looking for, the atmosphere in the stadium and the resolve from the players was excellent.

"To get four points from them last year was good but they're a different team this year and will be extremely tough on Sunday.

"We know how big a challenge it will be, Liverpool have added quality and in attack, they excel with their pace, technique and movement. They're a formidable outfit and they're getting better and improving all the time."

Lallana and Mignolet are back for the Reds, but Klopp may be without a host of defensive stars.

"Joel is on a good way, running outside. [He is] not available for the weekend, of course. The same for Clyney," Klopp told reporters at Friday's pre-match press conference at Melwood. "Daniel, we have to wait [to see] how he improved since yesterday.

"[We have] a few little things, with Joe, knocks from the game. Joe had a little bit before, that's why we left him out. But he should be OK. Millie and Robbo, a few knocks from the game, should be OK.

What are the Reds ready for? Another 4-3 defeat, a frustrating draw? We'll find out soon.

Liverpool duo Adam Lallana and Simon Mignolet have been declared fit for their side's trip to Bournemouth by manager Jurgen Klopp.

"Adam is back in full and normal training; if nothing changed since yesterday then he will be ready for the squad at least," Klopp said.

"[Moreno] has no chance for Sunday. I saw him yesterday on the bike - good but not good enough. And Simon is OK again."

Good afternoon and welcome to IB Times UK's live coverage of Bournemouth vs Liverpool.

Eddie Howe's men will have fond memories of their last match against the Reds at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries ran out 4-3 winners over Jurgen Klopp's side, having gone 3-1 down.

Liverpool will hope to avoid a repeat of that collapse, and they will also look to get back winning ways after enduring two frustrating draws against Everton and West Bromwich Albion, who found a way to stifle the 'Fab Four'.

Stick with IB Times UK for live updates team news and reaction to all the goings on at the Vitality Stadium, where Simon Mignolet is expected to return for Liverpool having recovered from an ankle problem.