Bournemouth under Marco Rose have been dealt a brutal hand for this one. The treatment table at the Vitality is overflowing — Junior Kroupi, Amine Adli, Veljko Milosavljevic, Julian Araujo and Tyler Adams are all listed as unavailable, and that is not squad padding, that is the spine of the press and the legs in wide areas. Rose's side still carry a punch through Justin Kluivert, Francisco Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier drifting in behind, but the depth that makes the Cherries so awkward across a full ninety is stretched thin. Recent meetings between these clubs have been anything but cagey — no draw in the last five — which tells you Bournemouth do not sit in and pray, they trade blows. That is admirable. Against this opponent, it is also dangerous.

Liverpool arrive with the cavalry back. Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Florian Wirtz are all expected to be recalled after being rested for the Carabao Cup win over Tottenham, and that is a different animal entirely — the world's best centre-back organising the line, the world's best goalkeeper behind it, and the creative hub pulling strings in the final third. Alexis Mac Allister simply cannot be left out after another goal and assist in midweek. The Reds' injury list is down to long-term absentees only, with Joe Gomez back in the fold. Momentum, quality and freshness all point one way.