Press conference'One of the most intense teams in the league' - Arne Slot's Bournemouth analysis

The Reds have turned their attention back to Premier League matters after the encouraging 3-0 Champions League win away at Marseille in midweek.

This meeting with Andoni Iraola's Cherries is the reverse of the season opener at Anfield, where late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah clinched a 4-2 victory for the hosts.

Asked in his pre-match press conference how different both teams are from that August occasion, Slot replied: "In terms of playing style, not too different, I think.

"From what I remember of the players they played, they might miss a few now because of injuries and, of course, [Antoine] Semenyo went to [Manchester] City.

"If I remember my line-up, we missed Ryan Gravenberch, if I'm correct, for the first game of the season because of suspension.

"Also not too different in terms of how we will line up tomorrow and the way we both want to play.

"I think Bournemouth is one of the most intense teams in the league. In every running stat, they are either on top or in the top two, three or four. So you know if you go there, you have to be intense yourself.

"That is a lot to ask from the players because I think we're the only team that plays in Europe that has two days' rest, except for the ones that play on Thursday, and that's not for the first time this season. But also not for the first time this season, we've shown that we're able to do so.

"So, looking forward to going there because we have a good memory of last season. A very difficult game but a very important one to win for us to win the league.

"But you know from last season and from this season that it's a difficult team to face."

With 22 matches played in the campaign, Liverpool currently occupy fourth place in the Premier League standings.

On his confidence regarding the Reds securing Champions League qualification, Slot said: "I'm very confident because I work with these players every single day and I see the qualities they have.

"But it's always hard to predict the future because I think if all these players stay available, I think we're in a very good place.

"But sometimes in football you can pick up injuries from nowhere. I didn't expect to not have Giovanni Leoni, Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley available for such a long time.

"But I think this team has shown many times – if they are available, if we are fit – that we are a very, very, very competitive team against any team in the world.

"There is a lot of confidence from me looking to the future. But fitness is, of course, something that's difficult to predict. But even if we pick up some injuries, we will still be able to compete, I can assure you [of] that."