Liverpool vs Bournemouth Review
Liverpool rebounded from their first Premier League loss of the season by defeating Bournemouth 3-0 at Anfield, marking their 11th win in the last 12 encounters between the two teams. The initial moments of the match looked promising for Bournemouth, who had only secured one win this season against Everton.
Antoine Semenyo found the net within the first five minutes, similar to last season’s match, but the celebration was short-lived due to a VAR review. This setback energized Liverpool, who created several opportunities before scoring in the 26th minute. A long pass from Ibrahima Konaté led to confusion as Kepa Arrizabalaga rushed out to intercept it but failed, allowing Luis Díaz to skillfully control the ball and round the goalkeeper to score the first goal.
Luis Díaz scored his second goal just two minutes later, capitalizing on a disorganized Bournemouth defense as he received a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold and shot past Arrizabalaga. Andoni Iraola’s team seemed stunned, and their situation worsened when Darwin Núñez produced a moment of brilliance. He cut in from the right and sent a curling shot into the far corner off the post, effectively sealing the game before halftime.
After the break, the visitors focused on damage control, aided by a noticeable decrease in attacking pressure from Arne Slot’s side. However, Liverpool continued to press forward, with Mohamed Salah nearly scoring a spectacular fourth goal after skillfully rounding Arrizabalaga, only to have his shot cleared off the line. The Egyptian was eager to score, but once again, he was thwarted by Bournemouth’s goalkeeper, and Núñez’s follow-up was also blocked on the line.
The Cherries deserve recognition for their persistent efforts to score, as Liverpool’s substitute goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made a save against Luis Sinisterra and then cleared the ball off the line to avoid embarrassing Cody Gakpo in the final moments. However, the Reds had already secured their victory much earlier, boasting 11 wins out of 12 encounters with an impressive aggregate score of 40-3. Meanwhile, Bournemouth has managed to win only one of their last nine matches.