Bournemouth manager Scott Parker is expecting a reaction from Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, as the Reds look to secure their first win of the season.
The Cherries currently sit a point above Jurgen Klopp's side in the Premier League table following the opening three matches, but after Manchester United surprisingly out-fought the Reds at Old Trafford on Monday night, former Chelsea midfielder Parker is anticipating a doubly tough afternoon for his players at Anfield.
Draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace, followed by defeat to arch rivals United, has seen the Reds make their worst start to a Premier League season in 10 years and pressure is now rising to kick-start the new campaign with a win. But the suggestion that Liverpool are now vulnerable was dismissed by Parker.
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He said: “I am sure they will be the first to know it has not gone how they wanted it to go but we’re playing against a world-class team, a well-coached team, an exceptional manager and against a team who are probably looking for a reaction. This is one of the hardest places to go, Anfield, and even more so in the current situation it could be very difficult. As always it is a challenge for us to face and we need to try and get something out of this game.”
Bournemouth are back in the top flight after a year back in the Championship and their reintroduction to the Premier League could hardly have thrown up a more testing run of fixtures. After overcoming Aston Villa on the opening day of the season, defeats against Manchester City and Arsenal have preceded the trip to Anfield tomorrow.
Liverpool's loss at Old Trafford was their first in the Premier League all year, but you have to go much further back to find the last time they lost a league match at Anfield. Their most recent home defeat was a 1-0 to Fulham on March 7, 2021. The manager that day? Scott Parker.
Parker added: “The challenges we’ve faced over the last couple of weeks have been big ones and this is another. It is a place that can be very intimidating but we played behind closed doors (with Fulham) so that was probably reduced somewhat. Again we were still playing against a high-quality team and along the way you have to show quality, you have to assert yourself and try to cause them problems in the areas where you can cause them problems.
“These are the games you thrive on. You are going up against – in boxing terms – the pound for pound (best) and they are elite in everything they do but you need to adopt an attitude that you want to challenge it. You want to relish the opportunity.”
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