Joe Gomez gallops down the right and plays an early ball into Mohamed Salah in the box. The Egyptian is allowed to control it, steady himself and shoot - but his curling effort is comfortably held by Aaron Ramsdale.

You can't give him that kind of space!

James Milner tries to slip it through to Roberto Firmino on the edge of the box but Jefferson Lerma gets a toe on it just in time.

No fireworks just yet.

Bournemouth remain organised and resolute at the back as Liverpool patiently move it around the pitch.

Jordan Henderson tries to find Roberto Firmino with a long ball over the top - they were so successful at that against Everton on Wednesday - but it comes all the way through to Aaron Ramsdale.

Liverpool just hogging the ball at the moment. James Milner pings it across to Dejan Lovren.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

Bournemouth's players walked out for the kick-off, all wearing tracksuit tops with "Afobe 9" on the back, showing support for their former striker Benik Afobe, whose two-year-old daughter Amora died last week.

Afobe, who spent two years with the Cherries between 2016 and 2018, is on a season-long loan at Bristol City from Stoke City,

Off we go!

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

As the world prepares for the Anthony Joshua v Andy Ruiz Jr rematch tonight, the match ball was brought out by up-and-coming local boxer Chris Billam-Smith, whose last fight late last month, external won him the Commonwealth cruiserweight title with a victory over Craig Glover. Who is from... Liverpool.

Omen? Let's get ready to rumble...

Liverpool wearing their white away shirts today. Are you a fan of them?

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

Despite a run of four defeats, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe's name is one which has been persistently linked with bigger clubs - including the recent managerial vacancies at Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton.

BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty wrote yesterday that Howe is "of interest to the Everton board" as a potential successor to Marco Silva, but "getting him mid-season might be difficult."

But when questioned, Howe was quick to reaffirm his commitment to the Cherries, who first appointed him as manager nearly 11 years ago.

"I feel very sorry for Marco, because it highlights how difficult the job is," Howe told BBC Radio Solent., external "I find the speculation disrespectful for this club - it's ridiculous, especially with the form we're in.

"It's absolutely time for me to say I'm 100% committed here. That has never changed. The difficulty is, it's coincided with a run of form that's been hugely disappointing, but I can reassure everybody that the focus on my work has been 100% here."

The Bournemouth players have the name of Benik Afobe, whose two-year-old daughter passed away recently, on the back of their tops.

A lovely touch.

Chris Wise
BBC Radio 5 Live at Vitality Stadium

Bournemouth’s media team had to shut the press accreditation for this game on Tuesday because of the overwhelming interest in attending the match.

Can a team who have been beaten in their last four games and have eight first-team players absent be the ones to end Liverpool’s 32-match unbeaten run in Premier League?

Interestingly, none of the four goalscorers in the Merseyside derby have started for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Here come the teams. Jordan Henderson was waiting in the tunnel for ages before the rest of his team and Bournemouth's joined him. Eager!

Jonathan Pearce
BBC Match of the Day commentator

So many people are whispering that Liverpool can still be caught; "They'll crumple under the pressure of chasing their first title in 30 years." Why?

It's a club record 32 games unbeaten. They've dropped just two points - the best record in Europe. They can destroy teams or grind out results.

No, they haven't had a clean sheet in 13 games. They will give opponents a chance. But they're always likely to outscore them.

The gap will tighten at the top, though. Even though this looks a banker - Bournemouth, beaten four in a row, one of 10 who could go down, hopeless in this fixture - it might just be the day Liverpool slip up.

But the title is theirs.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

Since January 2014, Liverpool have visited Bournemouth six times in league and cup fixtures - and come away with five wins, including 4-0 victories on their last two visits, with Mohamed Salah hitting a hat-trick a year ago tomorrow.

This is also the fourth successive season in which the Premier League fixture computer has sent the Reds here in December - but the first of those visits still ranks as one of Bournemouth's most treasured memories of their time in the top flight.

Jurgen Klopp's side led 2-0 at half-time and were 3-1 to the good with 15 minutes remaining, before a sensational comeback led to a 4-3 win for the Cherries after Lorus Karius spilled Steve Cook's 93rd-minute shot and Nathan Ake scored from point-blank range.

A repeat of that scoreline feels unlikely today. But then again, no-one gave the self-styled "fat Mexican" Andy Ruiz Jr a prayer against Anthony Joshua first time out...

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "Being top at Christmas is not important.

"A lot of people hope that we fail. We will just try to win at Bournemouth, so if that means we are top at Christmas, that is not interesting.

"We need to be lucky that the players stay healthy. This worries us much more."

Image source, BBC Sport

Bournemouth have lost four league games in a row, with their latest defeat coming against Crystal Palace's 10 men on Tuesday - I don't see them having any joy here, either.

Prediction: 0-2

Lawro's full predictions v tennis star Andy Murray

Image source, BBC Sport

Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "We're in a tough spot in a tough, tough league.

"But these challenges inspire me, we need to show the unity and the fight for the challenge and that's what I'm telling my players."

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

Liverpool's packed December means Jurgen Klopp continues to rotate his squad, making seven changes from the Merseyside derby. Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is rested today, while Wednesday's forward line is benched, with Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah returning up front.

With seven players out injured and loanee Harry Wilson ineligible, Bournemouth's XI mostly picks itself - with club captain Simon Francis getting the nod at right-back ahead of Jack Stacey after Adam Smith was injured at Crystal Palace on Tuesday. Ex-Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe,makes the bench for the first time since September.

Right, let's get this show on the road!

Liverpool, fresh from their Merseyside derby win over Everton, are looking to extend their lead at the top of the table and maintain their unbeaten record this season.

Bournemouth are looking for their first win since 2 November and can climb a few places in the table if they pull it off.

Liverpool make seven changes to the side that beat Everton 5-2 last-time out.

Goalkeeper Alisson returns from suspension, while also coming in are Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold drop to the bench.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Adrian, Mane, Shaqiri, Origi, Jones, Alexander-Arnold, Elliott.

Image source, .

Just two changes for Bournemouth, with Simon Francis and Ryan Fraser coming into the side.

Adam Smith drops out through injury, while midfielder Harry Wilson is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale, Francis, Mepham, Ake, Rico, Fraser, Lerma, Billing, Danjuma, Solanke, Callum Wilson.

Subs: Boruc, Gosling, Surman, Ibe, Lewis Cook, Stacey, Simpson.

Image source, .