Eight players sidelined as Liverpool visit Iraola's Bournemouth in Premier League

Liverpool arrive at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday short of several key players as they bid to end a run of mixed Premier League form, with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola simultaneously preparing to face the club he left in the summer.

The Reds sit eighth in the Premier League after four matches, their last league outing a goalless draw at home to Fulham. A 3-1 League Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday provided some momentum, but a clutch of long-term absentees continues to limit Slot’s options.

Defender Conor Bradley remains sidelined after suffering an ACL injury in January during a draw with Arsenal, with no confirmed return date yet provided. Federico Chiesa has yet to feature for Liverpool at all this season, having picked up a problem during pre-season; Iraola confirmed at his pre-match press conference that the Italy international is still unavailable, with no firm timeline in place. Hugo Ekitike is also absent, continuing his recovery from an Achilles injury sustained in April that is expected to keep him out for several more months. Giovanni Leoni, meanwhile, is in the final stages of rehabilitation from an ACL injury suffered on his Carabao Cup debut last September.

On the Bournemouth side, Iraola must manage his own injury concerns. Julian Araujo is out with a thigh problem and is not expected back until at least November, while Eli Kroupi faces the same return window after an ankle injury. Amine Adli is nursing a calf problem and Veljko Milosavljevic is sidelined with a knee issue — both are pencilled in for an October return.

Despite the absentees, Iraola struck a determined tone when asked about returning to his former club. “I know where we are going, I know their staff and their stadium,” he said. “Long while, you realise how difficult it is to beat Bournemouth. They know me and I know them.”

The Spaniard acknowledged the emotional pull of the fixture but was clear about his priorities. “I was buzzing for them so much in their first European game, but we need to go there and win — be as ruthless as possible, leave the talks until after the game.”

Iraola also noted that Liverpool have changed relatively little since his departure. “They haven’t changed too much in terms of names, same XI, few changes. Lost Senesi, signed Silva, similar. The main ideas are still there.”

A win for Liverpool would move them up the early-season table heading into the international break; for Bournemouth, a positive result against their former manager’s side would further underline their unbeaten start to the campaign across all competitions.