Lloyd Kelly returned to the Cherries starting line-up for nearly two months after recovering from a calf injury and this is also the centre backs first game since being stripped of the captaincy. Another name to note on the Bournemouth team sheet is David brooks who is back in the squad for the first time in 525 days after recovering from Hodgkin Lymphoma. The only change Jurgen Klopp made to his side after the 7-0 hammering of Man United last week was to bring Stefan Bajetic into the midfield instead of club captain Jordan Henderson.
A lively start from Gary O’Neil’s men in the first 5 minutes but the first chance of the game fell to Mo Salah. Nunez found space down the left and crossed to Gakpo who found himself in the box, he then played the ball right to the Egyptian who scuffed his shot straight at Neto. Another chance fell the away sides way a minute after with Van Dijk’s header from a corner was cleared of the line by Jefferson Lerma.
The first chance for the home side fell to Dango Ouattara 11 minutes in. Solanke played the ball through to the Burkina Faso international who took the ball around Alisson but could only find the side netting.
Liverpool did have the ball in the net a couple of minutes later through Cody Gakpo, but the dutchman was adjudged to have been offside. Bournemouth good start to the game was rewarded with a goal just before the half hour mark. The lively Ouattara brought down a long ball from Adam Smith, beat his man and crossed low into the box for Phillip Billing who tapped home to send the Vitality Stadium wild.
The away side didn’t respond well to the goal with only a Fabinho shot over the bar to speak of. Another big chance fell the way of Van Dijk just before the end of the half but it was another chance the away side couldn’t capitalise on.
HALF TIME – BOURNEMOUTH 1 LIVERPOOL 0
It was a lively start to the second half with Phillip Billing being booked inside the first minute after taking down Cody Gakpo. From the resulting freekick, the ball fell to Konate but he hit his shot high and wide.
Diogo Jota was brought on at halftime for Harvey Elliot and he found himself with a chance on goal in the 49th minute. His shot from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by the Bournemouth captain.
The first 5 minutes of the second half was all Liverpool and another booking came the way of the home side as Jadon Anthony brought down Gakpo inside the Cherries half.
Bournemouth were the better side for first 20 minutes of the second half but Liverpool were handed a lifeline after 67 minutes as Adam Smith was adjudged to have handled the ball the box. Salah stepped up but missed the target. The Liverpool winger blazed the ball over the bar an into the stands to the away fans dismay.
The pressure from the away side continued throughout the second half with chances falling to Jota and Gakpo but Bournemouth defended well stopping any attacking threat from Jurgen Klopp’s men.
The most unexpected of wins for the home side, but a win that for now that sees the Cherries out of the relegation zone putting them in 16th. Liverpool could have ventured into the top four with a win
in the south coast, but a poor performance summed up by the penalty miss from Mohammed Salah sees the scouse outfit stay in 5th, Full time at a jubilant Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 1 – Liverpool 0