Bournemouth vs Liverpool LIVE: Reds without Salah as they look to maintain lead at top of Premier League table – kick-off time, team news and how to follow

Liverpool resume their Premier League campaign this weekend against Bournemouth as they look to maintain their lead at the top.

The Reds are well in the title race this season and are two points clear of Manchester City, having played the same number of games.

Liverpool are flying in all competitionsCredit: Getty

Jurgen Klopp's new-look team have performed above expectations and are likely to push City all the way.

However, this won't be an easy game, as after a tough start, Andoni Iraola has turned things around with the Cherries.

Bournemouth are now well clear of the bottom three and are eyeing a place in the top ten.

Bournemouth vs Liverpool: No Salah

Liverpool are going to have to cope without Mohamed Salah for this game because he's on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt in the Ivory Coast.

The Pharaohs are one of the favourites to go all the way and the forward will be determined to lead his country to glory.

But that means the Reds will be without the forward, which could prove problematic.

Salah has enjoyed an excellent season and is level on goals with Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot.

So it will be fascinating to see how Liverpool cope without their talisman in these coming games.

They have plenty of options, but none are as good as Salah.

Salah has been truly exceptional this year Bournemouth have lost eight of their last nine league meetings with Liverpool, though the exception was a 1-0 win in this exact fixture last season. Liverpool have already won at the Vitality Stadium this season, beating Bournemouth 2-1 in the EFL Cup. The last team to beat the Cherries twice away from home in the same season were Bristol City in 1999-00. Bournemouth have lost all nine of their Premier League games against teams starting the day top of the table, conceding 30 goals and scoring just six. It’s the most such games any team has played in the competition with a 100% loss record.

Bournemouth vs Liverpool: Team news

The Cherries have a couple of long-term absentees, with Tyler Adams and Hamed Traore out.

Lloyd Kelly is also probably just going to miss out, but Milos Kerkez should come back into the team.

Meanwhile, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo are at the AFCON.

Liverpool face a lot of defensive issues.

Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas are out, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has a slight knee injury.

Joel Matip's season is over after snapping his ACL, while Dominik Szoboszlai could return from a hamstring issue.

Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara are still absent, while Salah and Wataru Endo are on international duty.

Szoboszlai is hoping to be availableCredit: Getty Bournemouth have won three of their last four Premier League home games (D1), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (D4 L9). They have scored nine goals in their last four league games at the Vitality Stadium, as many as their previous 11 prior to this. Bournemouth have taken more points from their last eight Premier League games than any other side (19 – W6 D1 L1). Liverpool rank second for this with 18 points from their last eight (W5 D3). Liverpool have won each of their last three Premier League away games, while the Reds last won four in a row on the road in the competition in March 2022. They have kept two clean sheets in these three wins, as many as their previous 14 away league matches beforehand.

Bournemouth vs Liverpool: What has been said?

Bournemouth boss Iraola has been pleased with his side's work rate this season.

He said: “I think, even in the difficult moments where we were not winning games, the team was having very good physical data.

“We have good athletes with good profiles. It is true that [last] month, with so many games, we were not rotating so much and players are finishing the games very well.

“We are even finishing stronger than we are starting. It is a good sign.

“You always have to [watch] how much you push on the physical side to not get injuries and all the managers have the same issue.

“We train too hard, or we go less, but then we have less intensity in the games.

“This is something we all have to manage and we try to take the best decisions.

“You never know until you see the performances.

“We are, especially physically, in a good moment.”

Iraola has turned things around after a tough startCredit: Getty Liverpool have rescued more points from losing positions than any other side in the Premier League this season (19), with 12 of those coming away from home. The Reds have lost just one of their last 14 league games in which they’ve trailed (W6 D7), with that defeat coming away to Tottenham in September, going down to a 96th minute strike in that match. Due to Egypt’s participation at this year’s AFCON, this will be Liverpool’s first Premier League game without Mohamed Salah since a 2-1 win at Southampton in May 2022. Since joining the Reds in 2017-18, Liverpool have lost none of their 10 Premier League games without him (W7 D3), winning each of the last four in a row. Dominic Solanke, who scored one goal in 21 Premier League appearances for former club Liverpool, has scored in each of his last three home league games (4 goals). He could become the first player to score in four consecutive home appearances in the Premier League for Bournemouth. Darwin Núñez is averaging a goal or assist every 93 minutes in all competitions for Liverpool this season (8 goals, 10 assists in 1667 minutes), with only Mohamed Salah having a better average for the Reds this term (one every 79). Núñez’s next goal will be his 100th in his senior career for club and country.

Bournemouth vs Liverpool: Date and how to follow

This Premier League clash is set to take place on Sunday, January 21.

Kick-off at the Vitality Stadium is scheduled for 4:30pm.

The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League.

Sky Go customers will be able to stream the action via their laptops and mobile devices.

Alternatively, fans can purchase a NOW TV membership.

talkSPORT will also have updates from the south coast and talkSPORT.com will also have a live blog to keep you up to date with the action.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.