Jugen Klopp has warned his Liverpool team that beating Bournemouth tomorrow will be anything but easy.
The relegation-threatened Cherries pushed Premier League leaders Arsenal all the way last weekend, succumbing only to Reiss Nelson’s dramatic 97th-minute winner.
Bournemouth led 2-0 with half an hour remaining, highlighting the progress they’ve made under Gary O’Neil.
Liverpool will head to the south coast with renewed confidence after their historic 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United, but Klopp admits his side can’t take anything for granted and claims Arsenal’s crucial three points last week were due to luck.
‘The last few days I saw a lot of Bournemouth football and the way play and stuff like this, it can be really uncomfortable for each team,’ Liverpool manager Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.
‘Only the last one against Arsenal where everyone saw how much Arsenal, who are obviously in a really good moment, had to fight and stretch luck if you will, a late winner is also a bit lucky even when they deserved it.
‘I’m certain Bournemouth will fight hard, and that’s something we should expect.’
Bournemouth were beaten 9-0 at Anfield earlier this season when Scott Parker was still in charge, but Klopp insists that result will have no bearing on the game tomorrow.
‘I knew after 9-0 that going there would be no fun because that’s the easiest motivation of all time,’ Klopp added.
‘With this previous result, that’s just one of the pieces of information you have, nothing more. Bournemouth employs a different system; we do not play at home, and our points total with home games and table position this season place us in the top four.
We must be consistent and step up to ensure that we create and use the necessary atmosphere on the pitch.’
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