Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for this midweek Premier League clash between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield! Both sides come into this game in relatively good form and looking to maintain that this evening, with Liverpool chasing a top-four spot this season and Bournemouth eyeing a top-half finish. All signs point to goals this evening, and if it is anything like the reverse fixture then we are in for a treat! Before we get into all that, though, let's first have a look at the team news...

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Lucas, Can, Wijnaldum; Coutinho, Firmino, Origi

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Karius, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold, Grujic, Woodburn, Matip, Sturridge

BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ibe, Arter, Wilshere, Pugh; King, Afobe

BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Allsop, Cargill, B Smith, Cook, Fraser, Gradel, Mousset

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, the biggest news regarding the Liverpool squad over the last couple of days has been the injury suffered by Mane during the Merseyside derby, with the winger expected to miss the rest of the season with the knee problem - a huge blow to the Reds. As expected, Divock Origi comes into the side in his place, joining Firmino and Coutinho in that front three, but it is also notable to see Daniel Sturridge back on the bench having recovered from a hip injury. He hasn't played since February, but could get a run-out at some point tonight.

Coutinho was the star of the show in that Merseyside derby victory, scoring one final goal and creating another for Origi in a man-of-the-match display that had Klopp hailing him as world class afterwards. The Brazilian had not been at his best since returning from injury in January, but that performance looked to be a sign that he is finally back on top form and Liverpool will need that during the absence of Mane. Coutinho has scored seven goals and created six more in the Premier League this season, leaving him one short of his personal-best tallies on both counts.

© SilverHub

Origi's introduction in place of Mane is one of only two changes to the side that beat Everton at Anfield, with the other coming in central defence as Ragnar Klavan comes in in place of Matip. Matip had been struggling with a back injury after the Everton game but is deemed fit enough for the bench tonight, which suggests that he will be available if required. Aside from that there are no changes in defence from Klopp as Clyne, Lovren and Milner all continue in front of Mignolet.

There were also injury concerns surrounding Emre Can, who Klopp revealed was hurting all over following a bruising Merseyside derby. Can was on the end of one or two heavy challenges during the game but has recovered in time to start tonight, which is important for Liverpool considering they are still without injured duo Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana. Lucas Leiva and Georginio Wijnaldum - the latter of whom has recently been named the club's player of the month for the second time in the last three months - continue alongside Can in the middle of the park.

As for Bournemouth, their biggest question heading into the game was who would replace Andrew Surman, who suffered knee ligament damage during Saturday's goalless south coast derby with Southampton. Jack Wilshere and Harry Arter were the two main names in contention, and the answer is that both of them come into the starting XI. For Wilshere it marks a return to the side after starting the last four games on the bench, and he will hope to keep his place now ahead of what promises to be a very interesting summer for the England international.

Arter, meanwhile, came off the bench against Southampton only to blaze a penalty into orbit with Bournemouth's best chance to come away with all three points. Nethertheless, the midfielder returns to the starting XI this evening as Dan Gosling drops out of the squad - one of three changes Eddie Howe has made to his midfield for tonight's game. The third sees Jordon Ibe - Bournemouth's club-record signing after joining from Liverpool last summer - replace Fraser in the starting XI.

It is a rare start for Ibe, who had only made one in the Premier League since November before tonight's match, but it is also a very valuable opportunity for him to show what he can do against his former employers. He was highly rated by many at Liverpool and a few eyebrows were raised when he was allowed to leave the club, but he is yet to impress at Bournemouth and Howe has regularly called for more from the 21-year-old. His return to Anfield would be the perfect time for him to prove a point.

Howe has opted to stick with two up front having seen the team's results improve since his change of formation, with King and Afobe leading the line once again for the Cherries. It was Bournemouth's defenders that did the most notable damage in the reverse fixture, though, with Cook and Ake both scoring late on to seal the dramatic victory, and in Smith, Francis, Cook and Daniels the Cherries have plenty of attacking threat even at the back should they be able to catch Liverpool on the break.

Bournemouth will no doubt be hoping to channel the spirit of that win over Liverpool in December this evening, but home advantage very much puts Klopp's side as heavy favourites to come away with the points here tonight. The Reds got off to a dreadful start in 2017 with just two wins from 12 matches across all competitions, but they have begun to find their feet again in recent weeks and are back on course to claim a top-four spot this season now.

Liverpool have won three and drawn one during their ongoing four-match unbeaten streak, which includes matches against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton. Perhaps the most pleasing result - and most important going forward - was the 2-1 win over Burnley, though, which showed that Liverpool are capable of winning ugly against the so-called lesser opposition in the league. It is something the Reds have not done enough this term, but Klopp will be hopeful that that spell is now behind his side.

Liverpool's last six Premier League defeats have all come against teams who started the match in the bottom half of the table, while four of their five losses this season were against sides who began the game in the relegation zone - the exception being Bournemouth, incidentally. That makes perversely worrying reading when coupled with Liverpool's run-in over the closing months of the season. On paper, it is comfortably the kindest run-in out of any of the top-seven teams, but with the record above it could still prove tricky for the Reds.

Liverpool have no more matches against teams currently in the top seven this season, remaining unbeaten against the teams around them in the table. Every other member of the top six must face two other teams in that mini-league before now and the end of the campaign, though, so the teams around them in the table are guaranteed to drop some points in the coming weeks. If Liverpool can maintain their form and win the games that they are expected to win then that should be enough to clinch a return to the Champions League.

It is worth noting that the teams around Liverpool in the table all have at least one game in hand over Klopp's side, but last weekend proved to be a productive one for the Reds with both Manchester clubs and Arsenal dropping points. Manchester United have already dropped points in this round of fixtures too, which means victory for Liverpool tonight would further strengthen their hold on a top-four spot. The gap to fifth-placed United currently stands at five points, which would grow to eight with a win here.

Liverpool will be confident of getting that win too. They have emerged victorious in four consecutive home league games for the first time under Jurgen Klopp, and another triumph tonight would make it five in a row for the first time since April 2014, when they went six in a row under Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool's only defeats in their last 33 home matches in all competitions, stretching back to January 2016, came in January of this year when they suffered a three-game aberration by losing to Swansea, Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In the Premier League, though, Liverpool have lost just one of their last 23 home games and Manchester United are the only visiting side to come away from Anfield with a clean sheet in the league since Klopp took over. Only Spurs have amassed more points in front of their own fans this term, with Liverpool having won 11 of their 15 home outings, scoring a league-high 39 goals in the process.

It looks like a daunting task for Bournemouth, then, but the Cherries make the trip up to Merseyside in good spirits themselves having also bounced back from a poor start to the calendar year. Howe's side went nine matches without a win across all competitions after the turn of the year, although the last of those - a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford when they were forced to play a large chunk of the game with 10 men - proved to be a major turning point in their season.

Including that draw Bournemouth are now unbeaten in four matches after a run of four consecutive defeats prior to that, beating West Ham United and Swansea before being held to a 0-0 draw with Southampton on Saturday. That latter result should have been a third consecutive win too, with the Cherries hitting the post through Adam Smith and missing a penalty in the second half. In the end they were forced to settle for a point, though, which they may well have taken before kickoff.

Bournemouth have only ever gone five Premier League games without defeat in the same season on one previous occasion, although it is important to remember how short their Premier League story is. Another draw would be regarded as a decent result tonight considering the Cherries have struggling on the road of late, going six away matches without a win across all competitions since the turn of the year.

Five of those have come in the Premier League, and a draw or defeat tonight would see them go six top-flight away games without a win in a single season for the first time ever. They have shown signs of improvement recently, though, including that hard-fought 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Coupled with the south coast stalemate at St Mary's on Saturday that makes it back-to-back away draws having lost their previous four before that.

The Southampton game also saw Bournemouth keep a rare clean sheet, with Swansea and Hull the only teams to have conceded more away goals than Howe's side on the road this season - not ideal when coming up against the league's highest scorers. Just four teams have picked up fewer away points that Bournemouth in the league this season too, with the Cherries having only managed two wins from their 15 outings on their travels.

Home and away, Bournemouth's defensive record has been a problem this season. Only two teams in the division have conceded more than their 54 goals, but things have improved of late and they come into this match having kept back-to-back clean sheets. Should they prevent the free-scoring Liverpool from finding the back of the net then they will make it three in a row for the first time in their Premier League history. There have been no such problems at the other end of the field, with Bournemouth scoring more than any other team outside the top seven, but they do need to tighten up at the back.

A top-half finish is still within Bournemouth's grasp this season, with just three points separating them from ninth-placed Watford, but the Cherries do also have a difficult run of fixtures coming up. Including tonight's game, their next three outings come against Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur before some slightly easier games against the league's bottom two - Middlesbrough and Sunderland. Any points from these next three outings may well be considered something of a bonus.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Anfield, which means that it is time for a prediction! Both teams have scored in 21 of Liverpool's 30 matches this season - a league-high - and I don't see tonight being any different. It may not be quite as dramatic as the reverse fixture, but I can still see goals and I will plump for a 3-1 home victory.

The reverse fixture at Dean Court memorably finished 4-3 to Bournemouth in dramatic fashion, with the Cherries coming from 3-1 down in the final 15 minutes to seal a memorable victory - arguably the biggest of their time in the Premier League. Goals from Mane, Origi and Can had put Liverpool in control of the contest, with Wilson pulling one back from the spot, but the Reds then collapsed as goals from Fraser, Cook and Ake completed a remarkable turnaround for the home side.

That was Bournemouth's first and only win over Liverpool in their history, with the Reds having come out on top in seven of their previous nine meetings before that. That includes a 100% record here at Anfield, with Liverpool having won all four of their home games against Bournemouth, scoring 10 goals and conceding just two in the process.

Bournemouth made two visits to Anfield last season, in the Premier League and the League Cup, and on both occasions then succumbed to 1-0 defeats. The most recent of those was in the League Cup fourth round when Nathaniel Clyne scored the only goal of the game, while in the corresponding Premier League fixture in August 2015 it was Christian Benteke who scored the winning goal.

Interesting the 11 goals between these two sides in their previous three Premier League meetings have all been scored by different players, which goes to show that there are plenty of goals throughout both of these two teams. Anyway, the players are out and we're almost ready to go at Anfield!

KICKOFF! And we're off!

Liverpool have made the brighter start to this match and have almost created a chance already, but Lovren just missed out on a header at the back post.

What a start for Bournemouth! They break the deadlock after just seven minutes as he latches on to a loose back-pass from Wijnaldum, beating Mignolet to the ball and poking it past the keeper! It is a nightmare for Liverpool but Bournemouth capitalise on their poor defending once again!

SHOT! Liverpool look to respond to that early setback as Origi picks the ball up just outside the area and shrugs off the challenge of Arter, only to then drag his shot comfortably wide of the target.

Not too many Liverpool fans would have been expecting a clean sheet tonight considering their defensive troubles this season and Bournemouth's quality going forward, but to have conceded so early is a big blow. Still a long time for them to recover, though.

Good response from Liverpool as they begin to take hold of the ball and settle into the game. They have a couple of cracks at goal from distance, but nothing to trouble Boruc.

Bournemouth are trying to stay compact and crowd out the middle of the park at the moment, but their natural instinct is to attack so it will be interesting to see if they can keep that discipline up for the majority of this match.

Liverpool win another corner and it is swung into a good area, but it is flicked on at the near post and goes all the way through to safety. Lovren picks it up outside the box, but his cross is poor and cleared.

CHANCE! Big chance for Liverpool to level things up! It is similar to the early opening for Lovren, but this time Origi spins around to the back post to get on to a flick from a Bournemouth player. The ball arrives to him at an awkward height, but he should still do better.

Almost a chance for the visitors as Daniels whips a peach of a cross into the middle which Afobe is able to take down on his chest. Milner is tracking back and gets a crucial foot in to knock the ball behind for a corner, though.

CHANCE! Set pieces are causing plenty of problems already tonight! It is Bournemouth's turn to threaten here and they really should double their lead as the ball is flicked on to an unmarked Pugh at the back post. The winger watches it all the way and fires a first-time volley towards the bottom corner, but it skims narrowly past the far post. Big chance.

Liverpool respond and win a corner of their own here. Just the one goal so far but this is already looking like it will be the end-to-end match that we expected.

SAVE! The corner is only cleared as far as Wijnaldum, who hammers a low show towards goal from around 25 yards out that Boruc does well to hold on to down low to his right. That one was travelling.

Adam Smith is in some pain here after his own teammate Simon Francis trod on his foot while defending that corner. The full-back is writhing around in agony on the floor and needs treatment, but he should be alright to continue.

YELLOW CARD! Lucas Leiva is the first name in the book, and he can't have any complaints after launching himself into a challenge on King.

SHOT! This is the danger for Liverpool as they push for an equaliser. Bournemouth hit them on the break, with a long ball forward seeing King race in behind Klavan. He outpaces the defender before holding off the challenge of Lovren and lashing a decent effort off target from a difficult angle.

SAVE! Liverpool have a shooting chance of their own at the other end moments later as Firmino collects the ball just outside the area, but his curling strike is straight at Boruc.

SHOT! The hosts win a free kick in a good position over to the right side of the area but, with most expecting a cross, Coutinho instead tries to catch Boruc out by shooting. It is a decent enough strike which ripples the roof of the net on its way behind, but the Bournemouth keeper looked to have it covered.

Bournemouth now win a corner at the other end and, although this one comes to nothing, the visitors are still carrying a threat in this game. They are looking every bit as likely to get the game's second goal as Liverpool are.

SAVE! Liverpool want a free kick for a challenge on Origi just outside the area, but referee Lee Mason waves play on and Firmino proceeds to fire another effort straight into the arms of the keeper.

Liverpool have the equaliser with just five minutes remaining before half time, and it is Coutinho who gets it! Firmino slides a cute pass into the box for his compatriot, who takes it in his stride and keeps his composure to sort his feet out and bury his finish into the bottom corner. Big goal for Liverpool ahead of the interval!

That goal makes Coutinho the joint highest-scoring Brazilian in Premier League history alongside Juninho...

29 – No Brazilian has scored more @PremierLeague goals than Philippe Coutinho (now level with Juninho). Samba. pic.twitter.com/CEiAxShR61 — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 5, 2017

We knew that there would be goals in this one, and it is very nicely poised for the second half now. Both sides have looked capable of scoring more in what has been an open and end-to-end game and I would be surprised if this one finished 1-1.

There will be two added minutes at the end of this first half.

Very good piece of defending from Smith as he throws himself in the way of a Coutinho header when the Brazilian was looking to cushion the ball into the far corner. Firmino had hooked the ball high into the area and Coutinho got there in good time, but Smith put everything into making a crucial block.

Lee Mason brings an end to the first half, then, and we're all square at the interval between Liverpool and Bournemouth. It has been a predictably open and entertaining affair so far and the match is still very much hanging in the balance ahead of what will hopefully be another action-packed 45 minutes to come.

The opening goal arrived after just seven minutes, and it was a gift for Bournemouth as Liverpool shot themselves in the foot defensively once again. Wijnaldum was short of options and chose to pass the ball back to Mignolet, but he didn't put enough on it and Afobe nipped in to slot the ball past the Liverpool keeper.

It took Liverpool until the 40th minute to respond to that, but respond they did through Coutinho to ensure that they went into the break all square. It was the two Brazilians who combined, with Firmino smuggling a pass through to his compatriot inside the box and Coutinho managing to get it out from underneath his feet and bury it into the bottom corner. Coutinho showed good composure with the finish, while the pass to him was also perfect to take the defenders out of the game.

KICKOFF: Harry Arter gets us back underway for the second half at Anfield! Will either side be able to get a winner in the coming 45 minutes?

OFF THE BAR! Liverpool are inches away from making a perfect start to this second half, and what a goal it would have been! Clyne collects the ball and drives to the edge of the area before lashing a swerving strike towards the far corner that clatters off the underside of the crossbar. So unlucky for the full-back!

I have just seen a replay of that Clyne effort and it was, in fact, a brilliant save from Boruc. He got a fingertip to the ball to divert it onto the crossbar, keeping his side level in this game. Sensational stop.

Bournemouth may be forced to weather a bit of a storm in the opening stages of the second half as Liverpool have started confidently. Clyne's effort is the only one they have had, but the hosts are very much on top at the moment.

Clyne almost turns provider this time as he makes his way down the flank before wrapping his foot around the ball to deliver an enticing cross into the area. Origi is attacking it at the front post, but he just can't get his head to the ball.

Bournemouth are dropping very deep at the moment as they look to hold out for the opening stages of this second half, but they are so deep that they aren't posing much of a threat on the counter-attack either.

Clyne has come close once already tonight so he tries his luck again here, but this time it is a left-footed effort and he slices it well off target.

This time it is Wijnaldum's turn to have a go from outside the area, but the result is the same - a left-footed strike that ends up high and wide of the target.

SHOT! Liverpool continue to apply the pressure and Coutinho is the latest to try his luck, collecting the ball out on the left flank and cutting inside before trying to curl one into the far corner. Boruc dives for it, but there is no need as it goes well wide.

Liverpool have made the most of their pressure to take the lead just before the hour mark! Wijnaldum goes some way to atoning for his error with a lovely piece of footwork on the left side of the area, beating his way before standing the ball up into the middle for Origi to nod home. The Belgian couldn't really miss after Wijnaldum had put it on a plate for him.

BOURNEMOUTH SUB: That goal prompts Howe to make a change as Ibe departs to a good ovation from around Anfield and is replaced by Ryan Fraser, who made a real difference off the bench in the reverse fixture between these two sides.

Liverpool are about to make their first change of the night as well, with Joel Matip stripped off and ready to be introduced.

LIVERPOOL SUB: There is the change, and it is an interesting one as Coutinho is the man to make way for Matip. Could that be a back three/five for Liverpool?

It does look like a back five for the Reds, with Clyne and Milner as wing-backs, but immediately they almost give up a chance as Daniels gets forward down the left before whipping an enticing cross into the middle that goes all the way through to safety.

That is an interesting change from Klopp, and the only real reason I can see for it is Coutinho perhaps struggling from fatigue after his international exploits and then two games in quick succession. The introduction of Fraser may also have had something to do with it, but Liverpool were in control of the game and there didn't seem to be much cause for a change.

Firmino is rather harshly punished for a high foot having controlled the ball in the air at the same time as Arter ducked his head towards it. The type of free kick that seems to be given a lot more nowadays than it used to be.

Lee Mason wants a word with Emre Can and Adam Smith here after a minor scuffle between the two on the far touchline. Smith had rather needlessly fouled the Liverpool man before taking exception to his reaction.

Spectacular effort from Lovren as he acrobatic steers a bicycle kick on target, but the defender is probably happier that it was saved after seeing the linesman's flag raised.

We're entering the final 15 minutes now, which is when Bournemouth rallied in the reverse fixture. They were 3-1 down on that occasion and went on to win 4-3, so you certainly can't count them out of this one just yet.

Liverpool have a great chance to break as Wijnaldum flicks the ball forward to Origi, who capitalises on an error from Francis to race forward. Origi has men in support, but he gets the ball caught under his feet and Francis does well to get back and make the challenge.

Bournemouth have a little over 10 minutes remaining in this one and, while they are still in this game with the deficit at just one goal, they have not tested Mignolet at all in this second half. They carried a threat throughout the opening 45 minutes but have been comfortably second best since the interval.

Klopp is hollering instructions at his players from the touchline, ensuring that they keep up this intensity until the final whistle. Spurs and Arsenal have both won tonight, so it is vital that Liverpool also hold on here.

BOURNEMOUTH SUB: Bournemouth make their second change of the night as Max Gradel replaces Pugh.

Liverpool almost have another chance to break as Origi collects the ball well and looks for Wijnaldum, who is busting a gut to get up in support. The Belgian's attempted pass has too much on it, though, and Bournemouth survive.

That is always the danger with only a one-goal lead! Bournemouth level things up with only three minutes of normal time remaining and Joshua King scrambles the ball home to surely rescue a point! Liverpool have a few chances to clear their lines but can't do it convincingly enough, with Arter volleying the ball back into the middle. It falls kindly for King who, under pressure from Klavan, fires it into the corner on the turn.

CLOSE! Liverpool are so close to an immediate response as Matip plants a header inches past the post from a corner. Origi was almost able to nudge the ball over the line at the back post, but he went for a flick with his right foot and missed the ball when he may have been better throwing his left at it.

There will be a minimum of four minutes added time at the end of this match, and what a huge four minutes it could be for Liverpool!

CHANCE! Chance for Liverpool to rescue a win! A long ball to the back post is met by Can, who plants a firm header back into the middle. Klavan meets it with a firm header of his own, but it is straight into the arms of the keeper.

Another disappointing day for Liverpool against Bournemouth as the Reds concede late once again to squander a 2-1 lead and miss the chance to move eight points clear of fifth place. Benik Afobe had given the Cherries an early lead at Anfield, but goals from Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi either side of half time put Liverpool on course for the victory. However, Joshua King popped up in the 87th minute to rescue a point for his side and dent Liverpool's top-four hopes in the process.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's game as Bournemouth once again hit Liverpool late to earn their first ever point at Anfield. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!