CHERRIES return to Premier League action this weekend when they welcome league leaders Liverpool to Vitality Stadium – but who will start for the hosts?

The Premier League winter break has given Cherries a chance to catch breath after a December crammed full of fixtures, but there has been little movement on the injury front for Andoni Iraola’s squad.

Cup duties, combined with the winter break, has interrupted good runs of form for both teams. So how do Cherries go about their first Premier League game of 2024?

Goalkeeper and defence

Although Mark Travers did little wrong in Cherries’ 3-2 FA Cup victory over Queens Park Rangers last time out, it seems likely that Iraola will revert back to captain Neto in between the sticks.

With Adam Smith ruled out and Lloyd Kelly a doubt, guaranteed experience and leadership is missing.

Cherries’ injuries issues are largely concentrated at the back, with three full-backs definitely out of Sunday’s contest.

Even if Kelly is not 100 per cent fit, it is likely that Cherries will have to turn to the defender to answer their left-back woes.

But with Marcos Senesi suspended after picking up five yellow cards, options at centre-back are also limited.

Illia Zabarnyi and Chris Mepham are the only fit and available senior centre-backs, and as such it seems like they will be the partnership at the back.

Max Aarons will have to hold down the fort at right-back.

Midfield

After spending most of the season looking fairly barebones in midfield, Cherries look a bit healthier in the middle of the park.

That is despite the departure of Joe Rothwell and Hamed Traore on loan.

Alex Scott is fully fit, whilst the Lewis Cook-Ryan Christie axis is hard to split. Iraola appears to be keen to keep a settle side together, so expect Cook and Christie as the six and eight, with Scott just ahead of them at the 10.

Wingers and strikers

The wide options also pick themselves. David Brooks is heavily linked with a move away, with his minutes limited under Iraola. Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo are away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Justin Kluivert has been deployed more centrally, but is also an option out wide. Marcus Tavernier seems nailed on, and Luis Sinisterra is slowly making the left-wing spot his own. Based on form and evidence, expect to see Tavernier and Sinisterra on either flank.

Dominic Solanke was rested for Cherries’ FA Cup clash with QPR out of an abundance of caution.

He is fit to face his former side, meaning there is no reason to think that Solanke will not lead the line for Cherries.

Cherries predicted XI: Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Mepham, Kelly; Cook, Christie; Tavernier, Scott, Sinisterra; Solanke.