Liverpool are set to face Bournemouth at the weekend in their next Premier League clash and the Merseyside club has been boosted with some good news regarding the injury situation. While the Reds will be without Philippe Coutinho for a while, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip are set to face the Cherries.
The Reds did win their last game against Leeds United in the EFL Cup and Jurgen Klopp fielded a much-changed side compared to the one that played against Sunderland in the Premier League.
Matip and Firmino were rested in the game as the Reds ran out 2-0 winners over the Championship side. The second-placed side in the Premier League knows that the leaders Chelsea face Manchester City and will be looking to overtake the Blues should the London side slip up.
Rest for the top players at the club
Sky Sports understands that Matip was rested in the EFL Cup as a precaution while Firmino did pick up a niggle in the win over Sunderland. The Brazilian forward has been one of the bright sparks for the Merseyside club and has scored five goals in the Premier League.
The onus of the Liverpool attack will certainly fall on the shoulders of the 25-year-old former Hoffenheim striker, especially with Philippe Coutinho out for close to six months. While Firmino was rested in the game against Leeds, another one of the bright spots for Liverpool, Sadio Mane, did play the game and should also be in the running to start against the Cherries.
When it comes to the defence, Liverpool certainly have made things tight at the back. The Reds have now kept clean sheets against Southampton, Sunderland and Leeds United in successive games and even though the team was not tested much, they have done pretty well.
Joel Matip has been great since his free transfer from Schalke and the 25-year-old defender has formed a great partnership with Dejan Lovren. The duo certainly complements each other and Matip is key if the Reds are to stay strong at the back.
He has played a much more important role of late for the side as his runs into the opposition half have given Liverpool other options to use and break down their opponents. In the win over Sunderland, Matip did spend a lot of time in the half of the Black Cats and he might have to do a similar feat when facing Bournemouth.
Liverpool are only one point behind Chelsea and a win over the Cherries could see them end the weekend on top of the pile.
