WHILE Harry Wilson admits he is delighted to see Liverpool flying high at the top of the Premier League – the winger has an almost completely different battle on his hands to that of his parent club.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have only dropped two points in the top-flight all season, the same margin as Cherries sit above the bottom three in the division at present.
The Merseysiders look set to end their wait since 1990 to seal an English top-flight crown. Wilson on the other hand is bidding to keep Eddie Howe’s troops at the country’s elite level.
So what is that like for the on-loan wideman, who has been with the Reds since under-nine level, to get his head around?
“As a Liverpool player and Liverpool fan I’m delighted to see them doing so well but my focus is on Bournemouth and staying in the Premier League,” the 22-year-old told the Daily Echo.
“Whatever position you are in you have got to do your best to overcome that and that’s what I am doing.
“Every game I go into I want to score and help the team and that’s what I will keep continuing to do.
“Of course, the past couple of weeks we (Cherries) were happy with the results we got, and the performances had been good as well.
“We were just disappointed we just couldn’t capitalise on the first 30 minutes at Sheffield United. I thought we were adamant we shouldn’t lose that game, although maybe we didn’t quite do enough to win it in the second half.”
Wales international Wilson played 72 minutes of the defeat at Bramall Lane, a 2-1 reverse which ensured Cherries remained in a relegation dogfight.
But, despite this season being his inaugural taste of the Premier League, it is not the first time Wilson has been in a battle to beat the drop.
The Wrexham-born star was loaned to Hull in January 2018, the same day as he signed a fresh long-term contract at Anfield.
The Tigers were 21st in the table when Wilson arrived, out of the drop-zone on goal difference.
Fourteen appearances, seven goals, four assists and a Championship PFA player of the month award later, he helped guide his loan club to 18th - eight points clear of relegation.
“I have been in a relegation battle to a certain extent when I was at Hull a couple of years ago in the Championship – but the Premier League is a lot different,” the winger said.
“It’s a lot more difficult, a lot tougher. I am learning a lot.
“It would be a lot nicer if we (Cherries) had that breathing space but we don’t – we’ve got to keep working hard and make sure we stay clear of it.
“At Hull I was able to escape that relegation battle and end up finishing mid-table. It would be nice if we could do that here.
“We are going to have to dig deep every game, give our all and just try to pick up the three points.”
With Cherries currently on their mid-season break, Wilson – who is also set to go to Euro 2020 with his country in the summer – has taken some time to head to New York with girlfriend Abby.
He is set to feature when Eddie Howe’s men make the trip to Burnley on Saturday, February 22.
“We are going to use this break now to switch off and rest but when we come back, make sure we are focused on going again to make sure we get positive results,” he added.
“It’s nice to have a break but I feel when you get in a rhythm of just playing every week you can keep going.
“I did it in the Championship last year playing 50-odd games (for Derby).
“We have it now, which isn’t a bad thing but I wouldn’t have minded if we had to go all the way through.”
Cherries, who have 26 points from as many games. then host Chelsea on Saturday, February 29 before a trip to Anfield on March 7.
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