Brendan Rodgers is hoping Liverpool’s home form is “second to none” this season, ahead of Monday’s Barclays Premier League match with AFC Bournemouth.
Liverpool clinched a 1-0 victory at Stoke City on the opening weekend, thanks to a stunning, late goal by Philippe Coutinho, and kick off their home campaign by welcoming Eddie Howe’s top-flight newcomers to Anfield.
Rodgers saw his side struggle for form at home in the early part of last season, winning four of their first 11 matches in the league, and the manager is keen to build stronger foundations for a successful campaign this time around.
“Building confidence early on is important and building the vibrancy around the place,” he said. “Winning early on is important to that. Home form is so important if you are going to improve.
“The main attribute is confidence. If you have that, that will give you success. That confidence will come from working hard and getting results at home. We are a team who wants to dominate, that will always be the case particularly at home.
“We trained at Anfield last night [Friday]. It was important for the new players and staff to acquaint themselves. It’s important our home form is second to none this season.”
AFC Bournemouth began life in the Barclays Premier League with 1-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa, but Howe is relishing the prospect of pitting himself against his Liverpool counterpart.
“[Rodgers has] been a role model, really, for me,” Howe said. “Someone you look up to and admire. I admired watching his Swansea teams play.
“When you try and analyse games and analyse systems, and philosophies, he’s certainly someone that I’ve looked at. I respect the way he conducts himself as well.
“He’s now building another Liverpool team, a new Liverpool team, this year, so it’ll be interesting to see how they do.”
Discussing his opposite number, Rodgers, whose side beat AFC Bournemouth 3-1 in the League Cup last season, said: “Eddie Howe is a good guy who I’ve got to know over a number of years. He will find every game in the Premier League is like a cup final.
“He and the Bournemouth squad deserve to be in the Premier League. Anfield is one of football’s iconic grounds and they will enjoy it.”
Rodgers is set to select a similar squad to the one who beat Stoke, but says Roberto Firmino is progressing well in his push for a starting berth. Daniel Sturridge (hip), Joe Allen (hamstring) and John Flanagan (knee) all remain sidelined.
AFC Bournemouth have question marks over the fitness of Christian Atsu (back) and Shaun MacDonald (toe).
Liverpool (from): Bogdan, Mignolet, Clyne, Jose Enrique, Gomez, Lovren, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Can, Coutinho, Henderson, Ibe, Lallana, Lucas, Markovic, Milner, Balotelli, Benteke, Borini, Firmino, Ings, Origi.
AFC Bournemouth (from): Allsop, Boruc, Federici, Cargill, Cook, Daniels, Distin, Elphick, Francis, Mings, Smith, Ward, Atsu, Gosling, MacDonald, O’Kane, Pugh, Ritchie, Stanislas, Surman, Gradel, Kermorgant, King, Rantie, Tomlin, Wilson.
source:premierleague.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 