Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool: Adli sinks Reds in last-gasp goalmouth scramble | OneFootball

Amine Adli’s last-gasp winner earned Bournemouth a frenetic 3-2 victory at the Vitality Stadium to condemn Liverpool to a fifth game without a win.

Evanilson gave the Cherries the lead before the Reds were caught sleeping by Alex Jimenez doubling the advantage on a marauding run around the outside of Milos Kerkez.

Virgil Van Dijk headed in from a corner just shy of half time before Szoboszlai’s late free kick completed the comeback, only for Adli to poke home in stoppage time to leave the Reds vulnerable of slipping out of the top four.

As it happened

Mo Salah was first to test the opposition keeper, bending a shot wide of Djordje Petrovic’s goal following a neat one-two with German attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.

The Serbian keeper made his first save to deny Dominik Szoboszlai’s half-blocked effort six yards out, after Wirtz was given far too much space on the end of Salah’s ball in behind.

The Cherries gave Liverpool a warning when they failed to clear a cross from deep and makeshift centre-back James Hill sliced the shot over.

But it was not heeded and Marcos Senesi took full advantage 26 minutes in with a precise lofted pass to David Brooks, whose first-time cutback was lashed under Alisson by Evanilson.

His third goal in three home matches gave Arne Slot plenty to think about, but he didn’t have long to do so as Bournemouth soon doubled their lead.

The away side simply backed off as Hill strode forward from half-way, finding an incisive low pass in between van Dijk and Kerkez to right-back Alex Jimenez.

The Spaniard clinically finished low to give Liverpool a mountain to climb before the break.

But shortly after Wirtz fired just past the post, van Dijk rose highest inside the penalty area to meet Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner to halve the deficit with half-time moments away.

The second period was devoid of any major openings, with teenage substitute Rio Ngumoha taking matters into his own hands on a run inside and was held by Jimenez.

Szoboszlai made himself the hero once again, excellently curling the resulting free kick around the wall and into the bottom right with 10 minutes left to play.

Liverpool lost possession in the middle and Ryan Christie burst through the middle before setting up Evanilson for his second, but he poked inches wide of the post.

The ball then broke for Hugo Ekitike on the end of a high ball from defense, as the Frenchman moved it on to the late-arriving Wirtz who sent a low ball right across the face of goal and wide courtesy of the fingertips of Petrovic.

Bournemouth had the ball inside the Liverpool penalty area once again, and failed to clear the ball in the ensuing goalmouth scramble.

Adli punished the defending champions’ poor defending, forcing the ball over the line and earning a deserved win that leaves Arne Slot’s side at risk of falling out of the top four.

Analysis: Liverpool defense far too passive again

Liverpool have leaked 29 goals this season, the most out of teams currently in the top four, and it’s held them back from what some fans would consider easy points – goal-packed draws against Burnley, Fulham, Leeds, and this loss to Bournemouth are all the proof you need.

Both their defending tonight and numbers across the season highlights a particular issue that Arne Slot is still yet to resolve: as basic as it sounds, their ability to cover dangerous spaces in behind and reliably win back the ball.

The Reds were simply far too lax in their shape leading up to Bournemouth’s second, allowing James Hill far too much time and failing to cut out his through ball into Alex Jimenez on a storming run on the overlap.

Liverpool’s 44 interceptions this campaign rank them second bottom among Premier League teams, and are the fourth worst at recoveries.

While some may point out that having an average possession of 61.6% renders those figures meaningless, since they need not win the ball back if they have it for long spells, a poor start to the season and numerous points thrown away are emblematic of the issue.

Now, there are as many as six teams all within three points of their precious Champions League spot, and could go on to lose it if they aren’t more mindful at the back.