In-form Bournemouth decent shouts against struggling Liverpool

Last season’s Premier League second-placed side Liverpool face Championship outfit Bournemouth away in the quarter-final of the Capital One Cup.

While the Reds are second-favourites with Coral to win this trophy at 4/1, to extend their record haul to nine, they severely lack form going into this meeting, with just two wins from their last 10 matches in all competitions.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, are on an unbeaten run of 12 games, including knocking out top-flight side West Bromwich Albion, with nine victories, which has led to them topping their table.

As a result, the Cherries are tempting 13/5 shouts to carry on their terrific form and beat the Reds in 90 minutes, and 13/8 to qualify for the semi-finals.

Liverpool, who slumped to a disappointing 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United last time out in the league, have never lost to Bournemouth in their five encounters in history with them (all in the FA Cup). They are, therefore, 21/10 favourites to beat them again, and odds-on at 4/9 to qualify.

Two of their victories against the Cherries ended 4-1 (in 1927 and 1968), and they can be backed at 40/1 to get back into scoring form and win by that result once more.

Bournemouth, though, managed to hold Liverpool to a draw in two of their three home clashes with them, so take tempting odds of 13/5 for a share of the spoils after 90 minutes, bringing the match into extra time.

Boss Eddie Howe will be hoping his star striker this season, Callum Wilson, can carry on his impressive tally of 12 goals this term, with the England-21 international 15/8 to net anytime.

Brendan Rodgers may pick Rickie Lambert up front in this battle, after Mario Balotelli was left out of squad to have further treatment on a groin problem and Raheem Sterling failed to impress in that position against Man Utd.