Unfancied Bournemouth is on a 12-game unbeaten run stretching back to Nov 23. It will aim to continue its fine run when it hosts Liverpool on Feb 1 (11pm).
During its unbeaten streak, the Cherries won eight games and drew four. Among the big scalps in that run is a 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, a 1-0 win against Tottenham at home, and a 5-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest, also at home, last week.
Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, has collected 40 points from its 23 matches – 11 wins, seven draws, and five losses. The team has scored 41 and conceded 26 goals.
Justin Kluivert (main image), son of the legendary Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, has been instrumental in Bournemouth’s rise this season. He has scored 10 goals, including a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Newcastle on Jan 18.
It was his second treble of the season. In November, he became the first player in the Premier League to convert three penalties in a match as Bournemouth defeated Wolves 3-0. The last person to score a hat-trick of penalties was Manchester City’s Ken Barnes on Dec 7, 1957. City won 6-2.
Bournemouth’s unbeaten run is all the more impressive as it will be without nine key players due to injury or unavailability when it faces Liverpool – Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, Adam Smith, Julio Soler, and James Hill (defenders), Alex Scott (midfielder), and Evanilson, Enes Unal, and Luis Sinisterra (strikers).
Andoni Iraola has done a wonderful job managing the Cherries in the past two seasons. He was headhunted by Richard Hughes, who has since become Liverpool’s new sporting director.
A victory for Bournemouth could lift it from seventh to fourth in the table, but that is easier said than done.
Liverpool leads the league table with 53 points from 22 games and can stretch its lead to nine points should it collect three points at the Vitality Stadium.
Arsenal is second with 47 points, having played 23 matches. It faces defending champion Manchester City on Feb 3 (12.30am).
Fixtures (Malaysian time)
Feb 1
Nottingham Forest vs Brighton (8.30pm)
Newcastle vs Fulham (11pm)
Everton vs Leicester (11pm)
Ipswich vs Southampton (11pm)
Bournemouth vs Liverpool (11pm)
Feb 2
Wolves vs Aston Villa (1.30am)
Manchester United vs Crystal Palace (10pm)
Brentford vs Tottenham (10pm)
Feb 3
Arsenal vs Manchester City (12.30am)
Feb 4
Chelsea vs West Ham (4am)