Agony, despair and a fall from seventh heaven as Liverpool were way-billed onto a loss against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth formation for the match and starting line-up
The home side went with a 4-4-1-1 for this game with the intention of choking the Reds at their home turf.
Gary O’Neil started Neto in goal with Adam Smith in defence alongside Stephens, Senesi and Kelly, the midfield composed of Billing, Lerma and Rothwell.
In the attacking department, Ouattara played on the right flank with Anthony on the left, the man put in the middle against Liverpool was Dominic Solanke.
Formation of Jurgen Klopp’s men and the starting XI
After their thumping victory over Manchester United, Liverpool came back to reality against The Cherries, Jurgen Klopp lined-up his side in their usual 4-3-3 formation.
Allison Becker was in goal, Alexander Arnold at right back, Konate and Van Dijk partnering with Robertson on the left side of defense.
The midfield three consisted of Elliott, Fabinho and Bajcetic while Nunez, Gakpo and Salah were the men upfront for Liverpool.
The Reds began action in the game
Liverpool got action underway and the match increased in its intensity and tempo as the game soldiered on.
The first big chance in the game was found in the 6th minute as Virgil Van Dijk headed back across goal off a cross delivered from a corner by Virgil Van Dijk but Lerma was at the right place at the right time to clear it.
Bournemouth got their own big chance on the 10th minute as a pass squared by Alexander Arnold was intercepted by Solanke who played a through-ball to Ouattara.
Ouattara ran through the middle as he was given the pass, rounding Allison Becker before hitting the side netting from an acute angle.
The breakthrough for Gary O’Neil’s side and the only goal of the game was found by Billings on the 28th minute, it was a pass that was taken over the top to Ouattara who did well to outfox Van Dijk with his speed.
He then played a nice pass from the byline to Billing who was free and in sight of goal to tap it home beyond Allison Becker.
The referee conducted a VAR check and it confirmed that Ouattara was onside with the goal awarded to Bournemouth.
Liverpool afterwards dictated play with the ball but in the 41st minute they came knocking on the door once again.
Robertson crosses a free-kick from the right side with Van Dijk getting ahead of his marker in the 6 yard box but he sends the ball wide.
The Cherries also had another big chance a few minutes to the end of the half as they won a corner that was firstly cleared.
However, Adam Smith plays a cross to Senesi who played it past Alexander Arnold before cutting it back into the centre but an instant shot from Solanke goes high and over the bar.
It ended 1-0 in the first 45, with Bournemouth doing the job in the first half, Gary O’Neil’s definitely would have been pleased with what his boys served him.
As the second half commenced, Liverpool introduced Diogo Jota and Harvey Elloit on the 46th, a quick change intended at giving Liverpool more bit upfront.
In the 46th minute, Billings picked the first yellow card in the encounter for a clip on Cody Gakpo.
It was a second half with lot of suspense, plenty to do for both sides with separate aims for the match.
Liverpool got a big chance on the 49th minute as Solanke was forced off the ball with Liverpool quickly initiating play through Jota and Smith couldn’t give much in that passage of play so as not to give a big penalty. Jota’s shot is curled towards the far post and Neto did enough to parry it away.
Jaidon Anthony picked up the second yellow of the game for dragging and pulling Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool brought on James Milner for Alexander Arnold in the 65th minute alongside Jordan Henderson for Fabinho and Roberto Firmino for Darwin Nunez.
Two minutes later, the Reds got a penalty as Milner went past Anthony on the right flank and played a cross into the far post with Jota heading the ball but it touched the arm of Smith and deflected wide.
Liverpool protested for a penalty and they got it but Mohammed Salah played a poor penalty with a lot of power with Neto going the wrong way but he wouldn’t be worried as the penalty was missed.
Ryan Christie came on for Philip Billing on the 70th minute with Ibrahima Konate picking a yellow 5 minutes later, Gary O’Neil’s introduced two players for Bournemouth with Ryan Fredericks replacing Adam Smith and Lewis Cook replacing Jefferson Lerma.
In the 83rd minute, a good ball fell to Anthony who made a good chase of it on the left flank before playing it through to Christie, he went towards goal and Van Dijk before taking his shot but Allison sorted it out for Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp brought on Fabio Carvalho for Stefan Bajcetic on the 88th minute with Bournemouth sending onto the field Antoine Semenyo for Dominic Solanke.
Matias Vina also came in for Jaidon Anthony, a big chance was received by Bournemouth in the first minute of additional time as Ouattara ran through the left before playing the ball to Semenyo.
He gets some space off Van Dijk but his shot went through the face of goal, wide and out with Liverpool staring at a defeat in front of them.
After 90+5 minutes of additional time, Liverpool came to the Vitality Stadium and they left with nothing, faces of distress and pain was seen after full-time as they returned to their old sloppy ways this campaign.
