1 February 2025
Bournemouth 0 Liverpool 2
In-form Bournemouth welcomed league leaders Liverpool to the Vitality Stadium. After impressive wins against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, with nine goals in the process, many felt this was a potential banana skin for Arne Slot’s side. No doubt Arsenal fans were looking forward to this fixture more than their own game this weekend, hoping to see The Reds drop points.
Before the game, The Cherries’ fans were full of confidence. More so than they had ever been going into a match facing one of the Premier League big teams. They were passing it around and stretching the visitors early on. As a deep cross was sent into the box, Alexander-Arnold’s headed clearance sat up to be hit by Semenyo, but he pulled out of it as Kluivert got in his way.
The Dutch attacker weaved his way through the defence before firing off a shot from a seemingly impossible angle. Alisson stood firm at his near post and blocked it well. It was a positive start from Iraola’s side. Semenyo then got a shot off from a wide position in the penalty area, only to see his effort come thundering back off the woodwork.
Liverpool finally started to impose themselves as an attacking threat when Gakpo threaded the ball into the path of Szoboszlai. The Hungarian managed to get a shot off but Kepa got down to save at his near post. An early warning shot for The Cherries of just how quickly this Reds team can transition from defence into attack.
Robertson picked up the ball in his own half and played a sublime long pass over the Bournemouth defence, into the path of Gakpo. Having got ahead of his marker, the Dutch forward looked to head towards goal before being bundled over by Cook. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and awarded the visitors a foul.
VAR seemed to take an age to review it and many felt it was a soft decision. However, looking at the replay, there was no doubting that The Cherries’ player had clipped the heels of the Liverpool man. That was what caused him to go over and as per the rules of the game, this is a foul. Eventually, Stockley Park agreed with the referee’s decision.
Salah stepped up to take it, drilling it past Kepa and into the bottom corner. The keeper had guessed the right way but there was no way he was getting anywhere near that one. Once the decision confirmed, there was very little complaint from the Bournemouth player who made the challenge. This is usually a big sign as to whether there was contact at all.
The Cherries thought they had drawn level when Brooks drilled a shot into the far corner. Celebrations were short-lived as the assistant immediately raised his flag for offside. The replay showed that Kerkez had drifted offside before crossing into the path of his teammate. Fine margins for Andoni Iraola’s side. It was a big let off for Slot's side.
As a Liverpool attack broke down, Mac Allister was penalised for a foul on Brooks. The home fans wanted to see a second yellow card, with the Argentine having been booked moments earlier. It was a good decision from the referee to just award a free kick however as The Reds’ midfielder was looking to shoot and did not see The Cherries’ midfielder coming to nick the ball off him.
Then came the major turning point of this game. Tavernier cut inside onto his left foot outside the box. He looked to bend a shot into the far corner, with Alisson beaten, but it struck the inside of the post and came back out. Kluivert was stood at the back post, with an open goal to aim for, but sliced his effort wide of the target. It was a huge chance missed by the Dutchman.
The Bournemouth fans just seemed to be in complete shock, wondering what they had just witnessed. Kluivert has been scoring for fun since the festive schedule and they had come to expect a lot more from him. In a match where the hosts had only managed to create half-chances, this would go down as a monumental miss.
To rub salt in the wound, the visitors came forward again. Diaz broke down the left and held the ball up well before laying it into the path of Jones. He immediately shifted it to Salah wide in the box. The Egyptian stepped onto his left foot and bent a sublime effort into the far corner to pretty much put this game to bed for Liverpool.
Late in the game, Semenyo continued to run at the visitors’ defence. As he looked to cut it back from the byline, it was diverted towards his own goal by a Liverpool defender. Alisson made a superb reaction save to get down and claw it out. The Brazilian had worked hard for his clean sheet and had no intention of letting that slip.
Liverpool held on for what will be perceived as a critical three points on the south coast. With Arsenal not playing until Sunday, The Reds moved nine points clear at the top of the table. The Cherries remained in seventh spot and can take a lot of ‘teachable moments’ from this match. They had certainly given Slot’s side a game at the Vitality Stadium.
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