Paul Merson, Harry Redknapp and Chris Sutton agree on Liverpool vs Bournemouth prediction
Liverpool play their first home game of the Premier League season this afternoon when they take on Bournemouth at Anfield.
After drawing 1-1 at Chelsea in their opener at Chelsea last Sunday, the Reds will be looking to get off the mark against a Cherries side now managed by highly-rated Spanish coach Andoni Iraola.
Iraola worked wonders at Rayo Vallecano before being appointed by the Cherries, who chose to dispense with the services of now Wolves boss and former Liverpool coach Gary O'Neill despite keeping them in the Premier League.
O'Neill, of course, was given the chance by Bournemouth after they sacked Scott Parker following their humiliating 9-0 defeat at the hands of Jurgen Klopp's side at Anfield nearly 12 months ago.
While it would be surprising in the extreme to see the Reds repeat that scoreline today, the pundits can only see one outcome. And, here, we've taken a look at what they've been saying...
Paul Merson - Liverpool 3 Bournemouth 0
"I expect Liverpool to win this one," the Arsenal legend told Sportskeeda. "Liverpool are one of the teams you want to watch this season. They are very open and will be playing attacking football this term. However, their draw against Chelsea didn't come about in an encouraging fashion.
"Mohamed Salah getting hooked in the 77th minute was a decision that puzzled me. He does go missing in games every once in a while but he is their main goalscorer. So taking him off rather early was a bit of a surprising decision.
"Cody Gakpo played in midfield last weekend. I don't think it's a long-term solution and I don't think Jurgen Klopp is looking at it like that either. They looked much better when Harvey Elliott came on.
"That's going to be a cause of concern for them. They need a midfielder who can hold and provide the platform for Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to play their game. But I think they are good enough to blow Bournemouth away."
Chris Sutton - Liverpool 3 Bournemouth 1
"I watched Bournemouth's draw with West Ham last weekend and, after all the hype, I was a bit underwhelmed by the Cherries under new boss Andoni Iraola," the Premier League title winner with Blackburn Rovers wrote for BBC Sport. "It was Iraola's first game in charge, but I didn't really know what to make of them - maybe that will change here?
"I will see for myself because I am at Anfield to cover this one for Radio 5 Live but, even if Bournemouth are better this time, I am expecting Liverpool's attacking players to make the difference. The Reds can use their bench too, and they have so many options up front.
"There might still be chances for the Cherries, though. Liverpool were brilliant in the first half against Chelsea but they were disappointing after the break. It looks like they are bringing Wataru Endo in from Stuttgart to play at the base of their midfield after missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea.
"At the moment, that is one area where they look short and it's the reason I am not going with them to get a clean sheet. I'm saying Dominic Solanke will score a consolation for Bournemouth, against his old club."
Harry Redknapp - Liverpool 3 Bournemouth 1
“I’ve got to fancy Liverpool in this one," said the ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager to BetVictor, as part of their new free-to-play BetVictor Predictor. "I thought they were superb in the first half at the Bridge last week, they created chance after chance. It’s still the same problem for Liverpool though, they concede too many goals.
"I think Bournemouth will have a decent season; they’ve recruited well. The lad Scott from Bristol City in particular, he looked top quality whenever I saw him last season.
"I think Liverpool will win this game, but I can’t see them keeping a clean sheet.”
