Liverpool's primary attention on Saturday will of course be on recording a victory in what could turn out to be one of the team's toughest games of the season.

Bournemouth has been outstanding under Andoni Iraola, recording notable wins over Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, and Champions League qualification is very much in the Cherries' sights.

Some of their star players are attracting interest from bigger clubs than Bournemouth as a result of their performances, with Liverpool among the sides linked with left-back Milos Kerkez as the Reds consider possible long-term replacements for Andy Robertson.

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Speaking in December, Jamie Carragher suggested him as a possible signing for the Reds. “He needs help," Carragher told Sky Sports of Robertson, who was going through a difficult spell at the time. "Liverpool haven’t got any backup and it’s something they need to address in January.”

On Kerkez, Carragher said: “Kerkez has been a revelation at Bournemouth. The only reason why I mentioned Liverpool is the fact that, yes they’re probably looking for someone in that position, but the sporting director who brought him to Bournemouth, Richard Hughes, is now the sporting director at Liverpool.

“He’s aggressive, he’s got pace. Even when you look at him he looks like a full-back – really aggressive bombing up and down the left side. He’s been superb since he’s come into the Premier League and he’s certainly one to watch in the future whether he stays or moves on because he’s made that much of an impact.”

Another player who has been linked with Liverpool is Antoine Semenyo, and Carragher mentioned the winger, who has scored eight goals this season, as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah, should the Egyptian leave the Reds as a free agent in the summer.

Carragher told Sky Sports: “Bryan Mbeumo is someone who has been talked about as a Salah replacement, and we’ve seen Antoine Semenyo talked about as a Salah replacement as well. If Salah was to leave in the summer, can you see a player from a mid-table Premier League club being used or a superstar? Richard Hughes is going to know Semenyo really well isn’t he, so that might be one to keep an eye out on.”

Liverpool will no doubt hope to see a dip in form from Kerkez and Semenyo this weekend, but their performances between now and the end of the season could dictate whether they are playing for the Reds come August.