Bournemouth 1-0 Liverpool: Cherries claim crucial win as Reds fall flat

Bournemouth 1-0 Liverpool: Cherries claim crucial win as Reds fall flat
_128957654_26fc3b3bb6761e1fc920358d4565633521f36088.jpgLiverpool conceded in the Premier League for the first time in 497 minutes

Mohamed Salah's glaring penalty miss helped ensure Bournemouth climbed out of the relegation zone after an excellent win which damaged Liverpool's chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

The Reds were brought back down to earth after last week's 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United as the Cherries, who started the weekend bottom, did their survival chances a power of good.

Liverpool were punished for poor defending when the unmarked Philip Billing struck from eight yards for his sixth Premier League goal of the season after fine work by Dango Ouattara.

Virgil van Dijk had a header cleared off the line at 0-0 and substitute Diogo Jota was denied by Neto's fine save before Liverpool won a penalty after the Portugal forward's header was handled by Adam Smith.

But Salah, who became Liverpool's all-time top Premier League scorer with 129 goals last week, blazed the penalty wide much to the delight of Bournemouth's fans.

While the win catapulted Bournemouth to 16th before the 15:00 GMT kick-offs, Jurgen Klopp's side missed the chance to go fourth for the first time this season after a lethargic display.

Having scored seven times in their last match, the Reds failed to register a goal against the worst defence in the Premier League.

Liverpool have made strides in recent weeks but this was a step backwards for a team who face a mountainous task to stay in the Champions League when they go to European champions Real Madrid on Wednesday, looking to claw back a 5-2 deficit.

Their patchy away form - just three wins in 13 league games on the road - continues to hold them back.

With next week's home game with Fulham postponed due to the London club's involvement in the FA Cup followed by the first international break of 2023, this was Liverpool's last game on the Premier League stage for three weeks.

They face back-to-back away games at Manchester City (1 April) and Chelsea (4 April) when they return, followed by a home match with leaders Arsenal (9 April).

Klopp will hope his side have washed this defeat out of their system by then.

Bournemouth show they are up for fight

The last time these two teams met, Liverpool won 9-0 at Anfield and Scott Parker was sacked.

This was only Bournemouth's second win - and first at home - since Gary O'Neil was made permanent manager in November after a spell as interim boss.

The Cherries deserve enormous credit for bouncing back after last weekend's emotionally-draining game at Arsenal when they led 2-0 before conceding a winner in the 97th minute.

They still have work to do if they are to avoid a quick-fire return to the Championship following last season's promotion, but this performance will give the team a huge confidence lift.

Bournemouth were strong at the back and caused problems going forward with Ouattara a real threat.

There was another huge positive for the home fans in the shape of David Brooks.

The Wales winger was back on the bench for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer in 2022.

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Player of the match

BillingPhilip Billing

Line-ups

Bournemouth

Formation 4-4-1-1

13Neto

15A Smith3Stephens25Senesi5Kelly

11Ouattara14Rothwell8Lerma32Anthony

29Billing

9Solanke

13Neto15A SmithSubstituted forFredericksat 80'minutes3Stephens25Senesi5Kelly11Ouattara14Rothwell8LermaSubstituted forL Cookat 81'minutes32AnthonyBooked at 51minsSubstituted forViñaat 88'minutes29BillingBooked at 46minsSubstituted forChristieat 70'minutes9SolankeSubstituted forSemenyoat 88'minutes

Substitutes

1Travers2Fredericks4L Cook6Mepham7Brooks10Christie18Viña21Moore24Semenyo

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté4van Dijk26Robertson

19Elliott3Fabinho43Bajcetic

11Salah18Gakpo27Núñez

1Alisson66Alexander-ArnoldSubstituted forMilnerat 65'minutes5KonatéBooked at 75mins4van Dijk26Robertson19ElliottSubstituted forJotaat 45'minutes3FabinhoSubstituted forHendersonat 65'minutes43BajceticSubstituted forCarvalhoat 88'minutes11Salah18Gakpo27NúñezSubstituted forFirminoat 66'minutes

Substitutes

7Milner9Firmino13Adrián14Henderson20Jota21Tsimikas28Carvalho29Arthur32MatipReferee:John BrooksAttendance:10,536

Live Text

Match ends, Bournemouth 1, Liverpool 0.

Second Half ends, Bournemouth 1, Liverpool 0.

Attempt missed. Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is just a bit too high.

Attempt missed. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.

Attempt missed. Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.

Substitution, Bournemouth. Matías Viña replaces Jaidon Anthony.

Substitution, Bournemouth. Antoine Semenyo replaces Dominic Solanke.

Substitution, Liverpool. Fábio Carvalho replaces Stefan Bajcetic.

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).

Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jaidon Anthony.

Substitution, Bournemouth. Lewis Cook replaces Jefferson Lerma.

Substitution, Bournemouth. Ryan Fredericks replaces Adam Smith because of an injury.

Offside, Bournemouth. Dango Ouattara tries a through ball, but Jaidon Anthony is caught offside.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Delay in match because of an injury Adam Smith (Bournemouth).

Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool).

Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Bournemouth. Ryan Christie replaces Philip Billing.

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