Luis Diaz scored a fantastic improvised goal as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-1 at Anfield.
Saturday afternoon brought more Premier League action for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. They played host to Bournemouth, who were hoping for a better showing than their 9-0 drumming suffered at the start of last season against the same opponent.
For Liverpool it was a chance to put the first set of three points on the 2023/24 scoreboard, after they picked up a point at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the season.
The Reds’ gaffer named an unchanged starting eleven to face the Cherries, with new signing Wataru Endo on the bench after putting pen to paper with Liverpool on Friday.
Bournemouth raced into an early lead at Anfield through Antoine Semenyo inside three minutes. And with the balance of play for the first twenty minutes, it wasn’t at all undeserved.
Liverpool were sloppy, incohesive, lacking any sort of real control of the game. The bright spark came from Luis Diaz, who found his side’s leveller twenty-eight minutes into the match.
Shortly after Diaz’s goal, Dominik Szoboszlai was brought down on the edge (but just inside) of the penalty box. The referee adjudged Joe Rothwell to have fouled the Hungarian midfielder, thus awarding a Liverpool penalty.
Mohamed Salah, haunted by his penalty miss at the Vitality Stadium last season, stepped up in front of the uncompleted Anfield Road stand. The Egyptian saw his initial effort saved by Neto, before poaching in the rebound to give Liverpool the lead.
The Reds carried their 2-1 lead into half-time, where they would need to regroup to ensure they maintained the lead in the second half against an energetic and exciting Bournemouth side.
More refereeing controversy as Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was shown a straight red card for his challenge with Ryan Christie. It appeared to be a genuine attempt to win the ball in a 50/50 duel. With his studs showing, however, it was enough for the Argentine to be sent for an early bath.
Tension around Anfield as the Reds were reduced to ten men with little over half an hour still to play. It took just four minutes after Mac Allister’s red card for Diogo Jota to score Liverpool’s third from close range.
Klopp handed a debut for Wataru Endo to stabilise the middle of the park and ten-man Liverpool saw out a victory against Bournemouth and the addition of three points to the table.
The concerning news is around Alexis Mac Allister’s suspension following his red card. The Argentine midfielder will be absent for Liverpool’s trip to St. James’ Park next Sunday as they play Newcastle United.
Liverpool immediately soared from 12th to 3rd in the table following their win against Bournemouth.
Liverpool team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Gomez 75), Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gakpo (Endo 62), Salah (Tsimikas 86), Jota (Elliott 76), Diaz (Nunez 86).
Bournemouth team: Neto, Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi (Traore 84), Kerkez, Christie (Moore 63), Rothwell (Kelly 76), Semenyo (Brooks 76), Billing, Anthony (Kluivert 63), Solanke.
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