21 September 2024
Liverpool 3 Bournemouth 0
After a shock defeat last weekend against Nottingham Forest, the pressure was on Arne Slot’s side to make amends as Bournemouth came to town. The Cherries have never won at Anfield, something Andoni Iraola’s side wanted to change. After a good win in midweek at the San Siro, The Reds were focussed on getting back to winning ways in front of their own fans.
Things started badly for the hosts as Kluivert broke from his own half, running at The Reds’ defence. He found Evanilson whose cross come shot fell to Semenyo at the back post, the Ghanaian slid in to beat Kelleher and silenced the home faithful. Despite their celebrations, a VAR review found that the Bournemouth attacker had just strayed offside and ruled the goal out.
It was an early warning to Slot’s team that the visitors were more than capable of hurting them on the break. The hosts started to play through the Bournemouth press as Mac Allister fed it out wide to Diaz. He cut inside, dropped his shoulder to beat his man and fired off a rasping shot at goal which was tipped over the bar by Kepa.
Mac Allister was firing on all cylinders for Liverpool and drilled a sublime pass through to Salah on the half volley. The Egyptian winger was clean through on goal but his shot was easily blocked at the near post by the visitors’ keeper. Since his goal at Old Trafford Salah has been struggling for form and not looking like his old self in front of goal.
Liverpool’s stand-in keeper was almost caught when Evanilson charged down his clearance. The Cherries recycled it well and the Brazilian played Semenyo in. Kelleher managed to make up for his mistake as he made a crucial block to deny the visitors an opening goal. He had some big boots to fill deputising for the injured Alisson in between the sticks.
Diaz was causing all sorts of problems down the left. He danced around three Bournemouth players before making a beeline for goal. As Kepa tried to close down the angle, The Columbian looked to beat him at his near post but the Spaniard made a good block to deny him. At this point you felt the opening goal was crucial to the outcome of this game.
The Reds were gifted a goal as Konate played a long ball forward to Diaz. Kepa came racing out of his box and as the winger controlled the ball, he had taken it around the keeper all in one movement. With defenders scrambling to cover the goal, he slotted home to ignite the Anfield crowd as the hosts finally broke the deadlock in this game.
Kepa Arrizabalaga always seems to have this self-destruct button in his locker. You could accept it a little more if he was a young keeper learning his trade. At 29-years-old, the Spaniard should have far more experience to his game. You can take the man out of Chelsea but you cannot take the slapstick comedy out of the player it seems. Classic West London vibes, they should be sponsored by ‘Just For Laughs’.
Moments later, Alexander Arnold drove forward towards the box. He spotted the run of Diaz on the overlap and the Columbian slotted the ball under Kepa to double the hosts’ lead. The player the fans call ‘Lucho’ had made an impressive start to the season. That was his fourth Premier League goal in five games so far this campaign.
Then came a moment of brilliance. Nunez flicked the ball on to Salah, who immediately returned the favour. As the Uruguayan ran down the right wing, he checked inside on his left foot. With options available to him, he opted to go for goal. His bending effort clipped the inside of the far post and went into the net with the Bournemouth keeper at full-stretch. A superb goal.
Much-maligned Darwin Nunez seemed relieved to be on the scoresheet. While fans lament his talents and finishing, there is a top striker in there and it is for Slot to cultivate that player. He scores regularly for his country and just needs to convert that form to the Premier League. ‘Captain Chaos’ as Jamie Carragher calls him, still has a big career ahead of him.
Into the second-half and Liverpool’s Egyptian King was desperate to get on the scoresheet. A lovely, weighted pass from Mac Allister picked him out in the box but his initial effort was smothered by Kepa. Salah picked up the ball again and looked to bend one into the goal but his shot was blocked on the line by the Bournemouth defence.
Slot’s side almost added a fourth as Mac Allister found Salah wide in the box. He beat his marker to get a shot away but The Cherries keeper made a save, Nunez followed up and thought he had scored but it was cleared off the line by the defender. So close to putting the icing on the cake for Liverpool at Anfield. Bournemouth were struggling to cope with the pressure.
Iraola’s side almost made it a nervy end to the game as Sinisterra twisted and turned in the box. He opted to go for goal from a tight angle and Kelleher made a good save to claw the ball out of the top corner. As the corner came in, The Cherries headed towards goal and it hit the crossbar before dropping onto Alexander-Arnold’s thigh. Kelleher reacted brilliantly to scoop the ball off the line to deny the visitors.
Liverpool chalked up victory which on paper looks like a comfortable win. That would be unfair on Bournemouth who created plenty of chances themselves. A solid performance from Kelleher showed his manager that he is more than capable to step up when needed. With Man City and Arsenal not playing, The Reds went top of the Premier League table.
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