Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool: Premier League

Ben Fisher was at the Vitality this evening and has filed his match report, so we can all make sense of it.

“It was a massive moment,” Bournemouth’s Alex Scott tells Sky Sports when asked about that late winner. “We pride ourselves on pressing nonstop until the final whistle and we got our rewards there. We’ve got to work nonstop for this manager and these fans.”

He says he enjoys playing with Lewis Cook in the centre of midfield and that Junior Kroupi can always bring some magic playing in front of them.

On his England prospects ahead of the World Cup, he says: “It’s a long way to go. I’ve got to keep working hard. Fingers crossed I get another call in March.”

A pretty glum Virgil van Dijk speaks of his disappointment at losing so late on. “Last minute of the game, very tough to take,” he tells Sky Sports. “We worked very hard in the second half especially to get back in the game. To concede that late is very disappointing.”

He says he was “clearly blocked” for Bournemouth’s winning goal. As for their first goal, he says the wind made the ball into the box difficult to judge and suggested maybe Liverpool should’ve kicked the ball out to get their substitute on.

“Losing never feels good, especially as a Liverpool player,” he continues. “We’re trying to find consistency. I don’t think there’s any question about our togetherness but the consistency still needs to be found. There was a lot of praise for our performance [against Marseille] and you lose a game like today and the other side of the world comes out.”

What does that mean for Liverpool? Arne Slot won’t be pleased with the fact they went behind while playing with 10 men but their defending was inexcusable at times. Dominik Szoboszlai looked to have rescued them again but another defensive lapse has cost them a draw and their 13-game unbeaten run.

They are now winless in five in the Premier League and, should results go against them tomorrow, they could end the weekend as low as 8th in the table.

James Hill had been causing Liverpool real bother all game with his long throws. Bournemouth are rewarded for throwing bodies forward in the dying stages. I’m not really sure what happened on the last throw – the ball hit the post at some point as various players descended on it in front of goal. Amine Adli somehow managed to poke it through a few bodies, including Alisson, and into the far side-netting from on the byline.

Bournemouth, who looked to have surrendered a two-goal lead after Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai’s superb free-kick routine, snatch all three points with the last kick of the game and pick up only their second win since October.

Well, extraordinary. Andoni Iraola looks like he wants to cartwheel across the pitch. Arne Slot is in discussions with the officials.

And that’s it! Bournemouth win it at the death!

VAR confirms that the goal stands! My word that was carnage.

Unbelievable! Hill’s long throw sparks an almighty goalmouth scramble and Adli stabs it in from the tightest of angles!

90+4 min: Hill’s long throw is flicked on but Ekitiké manages to clear … but only for another throw and Hill comes across to take.

90+3 min: Van Dijk connects with the corner but he can only flick it away. Jones sends the ball back in but Petrovic claims. Adli wins a throw up the pitch and Gravenberch is booked for kicking the ball away.

90+2 min: Salah hits a cross across goal but nobody in white can connect with it. Wirtz wins a corner. Bournemouth send on Enes Unal for Evanilson.

90+1 min: Wirtz escapes from Cook with some neat footwork and tries to disguise a pass to a teammate when the away fans wanted him to shoot.

90 min: Four minutes added on. It’s been end-to-end since Szoboszlai’s equaliser.

89 min: A few hearts miss a beat in the Bournemouth crowd as Hill passes the ball back towards his own goal and Petrovic has to move quickly to control it. Danger averted.

87 min: Scott shoots over! It’s not an easy chance and, left-footed, he clears the crossbar with a first-time shot from the edge of the box.

86 min: So close for Liverpool! Wirtz goes low across Petrovic, who diverts the ball just wide of the far post. The referee didn’t spot the goalkeeper’s touch and it’s a goal-kick.

85 min: Alex Toth is on for his Bournemouth debut, signed from Ferencvaros this week. Jiménez goes off.

84 min: Evanilson should score! It’s so open now. Christie marauds into the Liverpool half, plays a pass to Evanilson at just the right time but the Brazilian toes it just wide of the near post as Alisson closes him down.

83 min: Ngumoha looks to cause trouble again, driving past Christie before going down under Jiménez’s challenge after overrunning the ball. He’s made a real difference.

81 min: What a save from Alisson! Bournemouth try to hit back straight away with Christie smacking one goalwards from the edge of the box. Alisson sticks out a glove and tips it over.

Salah runs to take the free-kick but backheels it into Szoboszlai’s path and the midfielder whips the ball into the far corner! All square!

79 min: Ngumoha is getting some joy against Jiménez. This time the youngster comes inside and Jiménez eventually brings him down just outside the box, removing his boot in the process. Szoboszlai and Salah are eyeing this one up …

78 min: Nervy moments for the hosts as Ngumoha jinks past Jiménez in the box, who sticks out a leg and clips him. The teenager is honest and stays on his feet, which should be applauded. Anyone more experienced would have gone down and probably won a penalty.

76 min: Liverpool try some intricate passing on the edge of the box. Ekitiké rides a couple of challenges but then goes down in instalments and gets nothing from the referee.

74 min: Ekitiké loses the ball under pressure from Cook, who chooses to send a ball across the six-yard box when Evanilson had wanted it cut back.

Liverpool replace Gakpo with Rio Ngumoha.

72 min: Scott’s free-kick hits the top of the wall and Hill can wind up a long throw. Christie, Evanilson and Jiménez all have a go at directing it goalwards but Alisson eventually gathers.

70 min: Bournemouth launch a counterattack and, after Van Dijk clears a cross, Ekitiké is penalised for a challenge on Scott despite perhaps getting the ball. Bournemouth have a free-kick in a central position about 30 yards from goal …

69 min: Gakpo and Robertson combine down the left, with the Scot’s cross blocked out for a corner by Smith. Szoboszlai takes and Petrovic punches clear.

67 min: Gravenberch is next to have a go at goal, working the ball on to his left and dragging a shot not far wide of the post. Decent effort.

Kroupi is replaced by Ryan Christie for Bournemouth.

66 min: Another long Hill throw is cleared by Liverpool, who get bodies forward quickly. The ball falls to Jones on the edge of the box but his shot is blocked. Kroupi whacks the ball out for a throw, much to the annoyance of every Bournemouth fan who wants to see them actually keep the ball for a bit.

64 min: The Bournemouth fans are up in arms as Truffert wrestles with Endo as the latter tries to see the ball out of play in the box. A foul is given before Kroupi tucks the cutback into an empty net. Hill’s long throw is then cleared by Salah.

62 min: Bournemouth have lost any kind of threat going forward. Liverpool come again with Szoboszlai, who clips the ball into the box where it’s blocked by Senesi. Handball, Liverpool say. His arm was tucked into his body – no dice.

60 min: Gakpo come inside near the area and finds Salah, who returns the ball but Gakpo’s shot is blocked. Liverpool trying to turn the screw.

59 min: Liverpool subs – Hugo Ekitiké and Curtis Jones come on for Mac Allister and Frimpong. Szoboszlai goes to right-back, Jones in midfield.

57 min: Bournemouth can’t get out at the moment. Frimpong forces another corner, which Salah gifts to Petrovic. Liverpool are preparing changes.

55 min: Liverpool continue to play without much of a focal point. Gakpo is often drawn out to the left, leaving Szoboszlai or Salah (or sometimes no one) to occupy the centre-backs. A Szoboszlai corner is plucked out of the sky by Petrovic.

53 min: Endo drives into a gap in the Bournemouth midfield and attempts a bit of a Hollywood ball to Gakpo through the middle. It’s not far from coming off but Petrovic reads it.

51 min: Jiménez tries to bring Bournemouth out, driving forward down the right before involving Kroupi. Van Dijk is able to intercept the ball back to Jiménez and Liverpool launch an attack. Salah gets to the byline on the left and crosses into the box but nobody is there.

49 min: Robertson’s first involvement is to run on to a ball down the left and cut it back first-time across the penalty area, where Frimpong’s shot is blocked.

47 min: Hill lobs a throw into the Liverpool box. The ball slips out of Alisson’s hands like a bar of soap and Liverpool concede a corner. Cook’s delivery is over everyone and out for a goal-kick.

The second half is under way. Milos Kerkez has been hooked, with Spurs-linked Andy Robertson on in his place.

Match reports: Read about the day’s Premier League events

Ian Copestake emails: “The Guardian recently did a list of top time loop movies. If Salah is taken off to accommodate Ekitike then come full time Bill Murray might be waiting for Mo in the freezone with his mic.”

Martin Kerr has a less than glowing review: “Salah’s legs have gone, and all his confidence and swagger along with them. He’s gotten outrun twice by Adam Smith!”

Joe Pearson writes in: “By my count, Van Dijk is responsible for all three goals: completely shutting off for the first (a bad habit of his), playing Jimenez onside for the second, then scoring the third. Big half for the Dutchman!”

Peter Oh offers: “Van Dijk was let down by his left foot and left shoulder on the Bournemouth goals, but he has made amends with his head.”

Let’s not forget Bournemouth have won just once since October and haven’t beaten Liverpool since 2023. It’ll take some mental fortitude to resist Liverpool for the whole of the second half but, then again, Arne Slot’s team have looked very vulnerable at the back.

Virgil van Dijk’s header rescued something for Liverpool out of that first half. Goals from Evanilson – while Liverpool were playing with 10 men with Joe Gomez off injured – and Álex Jiménez had given Bournemouth a pretty convincing lead.

45+4 min: Salah’s free-kick is headed away at the near post by Truffert.

45+3 min: Liverpool win a free-kick on the right of the penalty area after Adli trips Frimpong. Kroupi goes into the book for wellying the ball up the other end of the pitch after the whistle went.

45+2 min: Wirtz tries to find Gakpo in the area but Bournemouth cut it out. One minute of added time remains.

Liverpool are back in it! One Salah corner is poor and flicked out for another. Szoboszlai takes this one from the other side and Van Dijk glances it past Petrovic at the near post. What a lift that will be.

44 min: Good chance for Salah. Gakpo lifts a ball towards the winger at the back post but his volley is weak and easily held by Petrovic. That’s Liverpool’s first shot on target.

43 min: Endo slides in to try to stop a Bournemouth breakaway on halfway but Adli scampers away with the ball. His cross into the box is into a good area but safely gathered by Alisson.

42 min: Liverpool want a penalty as Gakpo runs into Hill in the area but they won’t get anything for that. Wirtz gives a foul away straight after, only giving the home supporters another reason to cheer sarcastically.

40 min: Just wide from Wirtz! He comes inside off the right and aims for the far bottom corner with his right foot but it flies just wide of the post.