Amine Adli scored a late, late winner to give Bournemouth a huge three points against Liverpool to mirror the reverse fixture.
Back in August, on opening day, the Reds started their title defence campaign with a dramatic 4-2 win over the Cherries.
They went 2-0 up at Anfield, allowed a second-half comeback only to then snatch all three points to themselves thanks to 88th and 94th minute goals from Federico Chiesa and Mo Salah, respectively.
Today, at Vitality Stadium, it was Bournemouth who went 2-0 up and then conceded straight goals that made it 2-2. Like Chiesa and Salah five months ago, Amine Adli scored a late winner to give his side the win.
And there were a lot of tactical and mental layers to this game.
How did Bournemouth beat Liverpool?
Dabble sign-up offer: Bet £10+ & Receive £10 In Free Bets
Not signed up to Dabble yet? Here's how to claim the Bet £10+ & Receive £10 In Free Bets welcome offer:
- Sign up to Dabble through this link
- Register your account with accurate personal details
- Place your first bet of £10 or more
- Receive your £10 in free bets when your qualifying bet has setted
- Use your Free Bet on any eligible sportsbook market within 7 days
#AD 18+ 7-day free bet expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply. GambleAware.org
Liverpool’s initial intentions and Bournemouth’s counter
For the first 20-25 minutes, Liverpool’s game plan actually worked despite the 0-0 score. Arne Slot lined his side up in the same 4-2-2-2 from the midweek Champions League win away at Marseille.
The Reds managed to find through balls to Salah behind Bournemouth’s defence time and time again. Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz played with complete freedom and fed off of each other, giving them fluidity in the middle of the park.
Out of possession, their 4-2-4 press worked and forced the hosts to go long, which gave them the ball back almost immediately.
But Andoni Iraola adjusted in a few different ways. First, he dismantled his 4-4-2 and dragged Lewis Cook back to occupy the left-half-space. That’s where Liverpool were attacking the most and where Salah was getting his runs into.
The other alternative was to turn Amine Adli into a left-wing-back, while Adrien Truffert tucked inside. The Frenchman went one-on-one with Salah multiple times and they had very different numbers in terms of duels throughout the 90 minutes.
Naivety cost Reds dearly
Liverpool started off well but conceded two goals in seven minutes very much against the run of play. And they only have themselves to blame.
First, Virgil van Dijk failed to clear the ball near the byline and both him and Joe Gomez basically quit the play thinking it had gone out. Alex Scott and Evanilson, however, fought until the end and gave their side the opener.
Then, a collective fail from the coaching staff to the players. Gomez got injured in the first goal and Liverpool played the following seven minutes with 10 men while Wataru Endo warmed up. And when he was ready to enter the pitch, no player in white thought about fouling an opponent to stop the play to be with 11 men again.
Not only that, but they kept two players (Salah and Wirtz) in front, despite not being able to press. The Cherries had three to five defenders initiating build-up at all times, always with an advantage. This left a lot of space between the lines – which James Hill recognized and used to his favour. He then threaded a beautiful pass that Alex Jimenez put away to double their lead.
Going to the usual 4-4-1 or just giving away a simple foul would have been enough to prevent the second goal.
Set-pieces galore
Liverpool enjoyed a solid 20 minutes of football from open play, managing to create chances and enter the box in dangerous positions. Some of their chances, though, never turned into shots – both Salah and Wirtz tried to pass when a shot would have been a better option. They lacked a bit of selfishness at times.
Other than that, however, they really struggled to break Bournemouth down. The Cherries’ second goal was a huge blow to their confidence and the second half was a classic defence vs attack with the hosts lowering their lines and the guests trying to find a way in.
And yet, they did – with the ‘usual suspects’. First with a Virgil van Dijk header…
… and then a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick.
But losing or drawing, Liverpool still had a hard time creating concrete opportunities. They managed to establish themselves in the final third and pass around the box, but the Cherries did a great job forcing them wide and denying central access.
Opta credited the Reds with just one big chance. Being generous, it could have been two had Salah taken a shot early in the first half.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth had a total of six clear-cut goalscoring opportunities of their own. Granted, three of them were actually in the same play that led to the winner, with both Marcos Senesi and Amine Adli recording failed attempts before the Moroccan winger finally scored.
Just a few minutes earlier, Evanilson went through on goal against Alisson, but somehow placed the ball wide. And there was also both goals, which Evanilson himself and Jimenez converted nicely.
Overall, considering the strategies from both teams, it’s safe to say that Bournemouth executed their gameplan better and ran out deserved winners.