Liverpool 3 Bournemouth 1
Jurgen Klopp’s side welcomed Bournemouth to Anfield in a fixture that last season resulted in a record 9-0 Premier League victory which saw manager Scott Parker relieved of his duties after the game. The hosts opted for the same side that started against Chelsea in the opening match last weekend, while the visitors brought in Antoine Semenyo who impressed from the bench against West Ham.
Bournemouth started on the front foot from the off and when a ball was drifted over the Liverpool back line, Trent Alexander-Arnold manage to control the ball around his own keeper who was rushing off his line, allowing Jaidon Anthony to stroke the ball into the empty net.
Liverpool’s right back shows all the spatial and positional awareness of Sandra Bullock in the film Bird Box, fortunately for him the goal was disallowed as Anthony was adjudged to be offside when the ball was played forward.
Not to be outdone in the newspaper headlines, Alexander-Arnold received a pass moments later from van Dijk and had a first touch like the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs, allowing the visitors to win the ball back. Solanke ran at goal and laid the ball back to Semenyo who drilled it passed Alisson, through van Dijk’s legs.
Credit: @afcbournemouth
At this point, Liverpool’s season had all the promise of the stand behind the goal where work ceased the day before due to one of the contractors filing for administration. Jurgen Klopp’s side pushed for an equaliser and van Dijk almost got it when his header from a corner came back off the crossbar.
You could be forgiven for thinking The Reds’ defence were taking part in an episode of Impractical Jokers when the normally reliable Alisson mis-controlled the ball outside the box and had to lunge in on Anthony to prevent him running clear to score. Fortunately for the Brazilian, there were covering defenders so all he was given was a yellow card for his troubles.
Alexander-Arnold then showed why he is in the team, when he played a fantastic pass to Jota in the final third who got to the byline and crossed to find Diaz with his back to goal. The Columbian took one touch to flick the ball up and then hooked it passed Neto in the Bournemouth goal.
New signing Dominik Szoboszlai turned his marker just inside the box and was caught by Rothwell and went to ground, rather dramatically. The referee pointed to the spot and a VAR review did not change that decision. Mohamed Salah stepped up to take it and his penalty was rather impressively saved by Neto but the ball rebounded to Liverpool’s Egyptian forward who stroked the ball home at the second time of asking.
Liverpool were starting to find their stride now and playing some great attacking football, Alexander-Arnold almost making up for his earlier defending when he was found in the box, only to see his left-footed shot saved by the Bournemouth keeper.
Semenyo continued to cause Klopp’s side problems in the second half as he muscled his way through the midfield and defence to unleash a shot from outside the box that had keeper Alisson rooted to the spot. Fortune was on the side of Liverpool however as the ball continued to rise over the crossbar.
Credit: @LFC
Diaz did well down the left wing, crossing to find Jota, whose shot at goal was blocked by the defender. As the ball came out, Mac Allister challenged Christie and was immediately shown a red card by the referee. VAR did not change the decision despite replays showing it was an extremely harsh decision.
Alexander-Arnold then found Szoboszlai minutes later and the Hungarian took one touch to control it before unleashing a shot at goal which the keeper could only parry, which was followed up by Diogo Jota who knocked it into the net.
Liverpool brought new signing Endo on as they were now a midfielder short and it was his challenge that broke down an attack for the visitors and as Salah found Jota, he almost added another.
Bournemouth knew with the numerical advantage that they were always in this game and when Brooks cut the ball back from the byline to Kluiverts, Billing looked sure to knock in the rebound from Alisson’s save until his own player challenged him for the ball, resulting in a scuffed shot wide of the target. To me, to you, to me, to you.
Traore went on a mazy run through the Liverpool defence but Alisson was able to get a hand to his effort which was heading into the bottom corner of the goal. In a highly entertaining game, Liverpool managed to win all three points but, on another day, it could have been all so different.
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