Virgil van Dijk powered Liverpool back into the contest with a towering header from a corner just before the interval, and it looked as though Dominik Szoboszlai’s superb late free kick had rescued the Reds after a difficult night. However, any hope of a valuable comeback point was dashed in stoppage time when Adli reacted quickest in the box to score the decisive goal, leaving Liverpool in serious danger of slipping out of the Premier League’s top four.
How the match unfolded
Liverpool began the match brightly and were first to threaten through Mohamed Salah, who linked up smartly with Florian Wirtz before curling an effort just wide of Djordje Petrovic’s far post. Moments later, the Bournemouth goalkeeper was forced into action, saving Szoboszlai’s close-range attempt after Wirtz found space from a well-weighted ball in behind the defence.
Despite Liverpool’s early pressure, Bournemouth showed signs of danger. A poorly cleared cross fell kindly to James Hill, whose sliced effort flew over the bar, serving as a warning that went unheeded. Just past the midway point of the first half, the hosts took the lead in clinical fashion. Marcos Senesi picked out David Brooks with a perfectly measured lofted pass, and Brooks’ first-time cutback was smashed under Alisson by Evanilson to open the scoring.
That goal seemed to unsettle Arne Slot’s side, and Bournemouth quickly struck again. Liverpool retreated far too easily as Hill carried the ball forward unchallenged from deep, splitting the defence with a sharp pass between van Dijk and Milos Kerkez. Right-back Alex Jimenez burst through and finished calmly to double the home side’s advantage.
Liverpool responded before the break. After Wirtz narrowly missed the target from the edge of the box, van Dijk rose highest from a Szoboszlai corner to head home and give the Reds renewed belief heading into half-time.
The second half was largely scrappy, with few clear chances at either end. Teenage substitute Rio Ngumoha attempted to inject urgency with a direct run into the box and was fouled by Jimenez. Szoboszlai stepped up once more, curling a magnificent free kick around the wall and into the bottom corner with ten minutes remaining to seemingly complete the comeback.
Bournemouth, however, refused to fold. Liverpool lost possession cheaply in midfield, allowing Ryan Christie to surge forward and find Evanilson, whose second effort flashed narrowly wide. Soon after, Hugo Ekitike brought down a long ball and fed Wirtz, whose low cross was diverted inches wide by Petrovic’s fingertips.
The decisive moment arrived late on. Bournemouth once again worked the ball into Liverpool’s penalty area, and after the visitors failed to deal with the danger, Adli reacted sharply in the ensuing scramble to force the ball over the line, sealing a deserved victory.
Analysis: Defensive frailties cost Liverpool again
Liverpool’s defensive issues were once more exposed. Having conceded 29 goals this season — the most among the current top-four sides — the Reds continue to drop points in matches they might otherwise expect to win. Entertaining draws against Burnley, Fulham, and Leeds, combined with this defeat, highlight a recurring problem.
Arne Slot’s team remains too passive when defending key spaces, particularly in transition. Bournemouth’s second goal epitomised this weakness, with Liverpool failing to press the ball carrier or track runners effectively. Statistically, their struggles are evident, ranking near the bottom of the league for interceptions and recoveries.
While Liverpool’s high possession numbers may mask these issues at times, their vulnerability when the ball is lost has already proven costly. With several teams now breathing down their necks in the race for Champions League qualification, defensive improvement is no longer optional — it is essential.
