Bournemouth dent Liverpool top four hopes with shock home win
Bournemouth grabbed a shock 1-0 win over Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon, a result that sees them pull out of the relegation zone.
The Cherries came into this game after their heartbreaking last-minute loss against Arsenal last week. At the same time, Liverpool had hoped to build on their stunning 7-0 win over Manchester United in their desire for a top-four finish.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s side put in a lackluster performance as Bournemouth picked up three important points in their quest to avoid the drop.
Liverpool started the better of the two sides and almost took the lead in the 6th minute, but Virgil van Dijk’s thumping header was kept out off the line by Jefferson Lerma. Seven minutes later, Neto then kept the scores level with a good low save from Andy Robertson as the Reds showed their dominance in the opening 15 minutes.
BIlling scores again
The hosts, however, settled down into the game starting to see more of the ball, and took the lead in the 28th minute after some wonderful interplay. Dango Ouattara got the better of van Dijk from a lofted ball in the middle of the park before pulling it back for Philip Billing which the latter finished with aplomb past Alisson in the Liverpool goal.
This was the Dane’s sixth goal of the current campaign and the midfielder’s goalscoring prowess will be key for Bournemouth in order to stave off relegation.
The hosts could have been 2-0 ahead going into halftime but former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke blazed his effort well over the bar following a corner. Liverpool struggled to get any foothold in the game as they failed to carve any clear-cut openings, a stark contrast from their stunning build-up play from last week.
SALAH MISSES PENALTY
The Reds were given a lifeline in the 70th minute when they were awarded a penalty by VAR after it appeared that Diogo Jota’s header had deflected off Adam Smith’s arm on its way out.
However, Salah fluffed his lines with a poor spot kick that saw his effort well wide of goal. Liverpool put the home side under serious pressure in the final few minutes but the hosts held on to their slender lead to give them a huge win.
The result means that Gary O’Neil’s men climb off the bottom of the standings to rise up to 16th with 24 points. Bournemouth also avenged their 9-0 humiliation earlier this season against the Reds in the reverse fixture at Anfield.
Liverpool meanwhile stay fifth with 42 points, three adrift of Tottenham Hotspur for a place in the top four. Klopp’s side now shift focus for their second leg assignment of the Champions League last 16 against reigning Champions Real Madrid as they trail 2-5 from the heavy first leg defeat at Anfield.
Photo Credit: Imago / Colorsport