AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from Vitality Stadium
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah missed a second-half penalty as his side fell to a 1-0 defeat away at Bournemouth, with Philip Billing’s goal lifting the south-coast side off the bottom of the Premier League table and out of the relegation zone.
The win in the first league game of the weekend sees the Cherries rise from last spot to 16th in the table on 24 points, while Liverpool languish in fifth on 42 points after wasting a chance to close the three-point gap to fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool started well, with Mohamed Salah scuffing an early shot goalwards and Bournemouth defender Jefferson Lerma clearing a Virgil van Dijk header off the line. But as so often before this season, the wheels quickly came off for the visitors.
Bournemouth’s Dango Outtara fired wide after a one-on-one with Alisson but the Reds didn’t heed that warning, and they paid for it in the 28th minute when he outpaced Van Dijk and squared the ball for Billing, who steered it home.
Diogo Jota came on for Harvey Elliot at halftime and he won a penalty for Liverpool as his goal-bound header struck the arm of Adam Smith, but to the horror of the travelling fans Salah blasted his spot kick high and wide of the goal.
That miss in the 70th minute seemed to deflate Liverpool entirely, and they did precious little to threaten the Bournemouth goal, and the home fans cheered every tackle and clearance as their side held on for a much-needed win.
AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool
Bournemouth have won just one of their 11 Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D1 L9), losing the last seven in a row by an aggregate score of 28-1.
AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool
Bournemouth's attempt at a counter-attack fizzles out and Salah plays a one-two with Elliott to get away down the right. He switches it to Alexander-Arnold on the opposite side, and he scuffs it on the half-volley, sending it well wide.
AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool
Bournemouth are staying very compact, but it's leaving a lot of space in the wide areas. Elliott sweeps it out to Alexander-Arnold, who tries to fizz it into the six-yard box. Stephens deflects it into the side netting.
AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool
OFFSIDE! Robertson forced a good low save out of Neto, but Bournemouth couldn't clear their lines. Liverpool work it back out to the left, with Nunez nodding it back into the middle for Gakpo to turn past the keeper, but the flag goes up. It won't count!
AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool
Liverpool are patiently working it out from the back and it's played down the left this time, with Robertson picking out Nunez. He cuts inside before taking a shot from distance, but it's straight at Neto.
AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool
CHANCE! Alexander-Arnold's square pass in his own half is cut out by Solanke, who plays it through for Ouattara. He races through the middle when he's played in before taking it around Alisson and hitting the side netting from a tight angle.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments