Football News: Liverpool v Bournemouth - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

Liverpool v Bournemouth A Liverpool Perspective

An exciting and entertaining way to open the season, against a team that are looking strong despite an almost entirely new backline. The clearest thing to come out of that game, for me at least, was how many Liverpool players are not quite ready yet for the season. There are still a number of them, for various reasons, that are nowhere near match fit and even further away from being match sharp. It used to be that teams would expect to need 5-6 games to get up to speed, but modern sports science has meant that these days most players come back almost match fit and ready to go. Even so, while players get match sharp in the early season there is always the potential for a surprise result, which makes this part of the season just about picking up results, rather than performing well.

Once again Slot showed a willingness to alter things tactically, starting the game with a new-look 4-2-3-1 formation, but he kept it similar to last season at the back, holding the left-back in position most of the time. Frimpong was given much more freedom to get forward, but Kerkez was sitting back, covering against Semenyo for the first half. That all changed at half-time, with the full-backs both freed up to get forward at will and it changed the game. Suddenly the Cherries were pinned back and a second goal quickly came. It looked like Liverpool would go one to build a bigger lead the way it was going. But it was that point that Slot made the subs on the 60th minute.

Frimpong had been feeling his hamstring at half-time and had to come off and Kerkez was running on empty. The mistake was, in my opinion at least, to bring on Endo at right-back. Once Gomez came on to play there and Endo moved into the centre, the team looked much more comfortable, even though they did get caught by a break. That was down to the central mids both getting forward at the same time. As the attack was building by Endo, Mac Allister should have dropped back in and protected the back line. It is just the kind of mistake teams make early on, as they get used to each other and a new style of play. These little things getting punished but not costing the points can be a good thing, as they are there now to remind the team to work as a unit and not all just charge up field at once.

I do understand why Slot was unable to bring Gomez on initially, as he is still working his way back to fitness following an injury, but moving Szoboszlai over would have been a better option in my opinion. Someone with the pace and energy to get up and down the flank was needed and Endo just is not that. Having said all that, more of the problem was the shift in emphasis, with the team being more disjointed defensively, most looking to just drop off, rather than press. A lot of that was probably just tiredness, but certainly it was also the factor of going two goals ahead, which naturally sees players begin to be a bit safer with their choices, choosing to hold on to what they have.

There is also a natural lowering in care over what they do, which shows in sloppy passes and also the players all getting caught up field as none of them were taking the time to check where the others were. In a normal course of play, players have partnerships that they build up and they work in tandem, one attacking, one sitting back or dropping off to cover. That is something that develops over time, so it is understandable that at times that was not happening in this match, but I expect it to improve over the course of the coming weeks. Liverpool are clearly looking to be a little more attacking this season, but I would not expect them to be as open every game as they were in this one, even if Gravenberch is out.

And, on top of all that, this game was also extremely emotional for the players, the first home game since the sad passing of Diogo Jota and that has to have an effect on players. Mo Salah's tears at the end as the Kop belted out Jota's song told a story. This was a game that was just about getting 3 points on the board, players feeling their way back towards match sharpness and yet it was done in style, with an exciting game and some moments of sheer joy to savour. You can't really ask for much more.

Well, actually I can think of one more thing that could be asked for - decent match officials. It was not just the blatant hand ball they missed, it was a whole series of decisions that Anthony Taylor messed up. He truly is an abysmal referee, not fit to referee anywhere near the professional game. I used to put it down to him being a Mancunian under pressure (or biased) when officiating Liverpool games, but I have noticed that it is every time I see him in charge of a game he is hopeless. One of the worst referees in the modern era, which is a hell of a high bar to reach, considering how low the quality level has dropped. Taylor is the kind of official that the Premier League should be ashamed of.

Bournemouth

it is very difficult to judge Bournemouth on this game. They were second best, but they gave a very good account of themselves, however the defence looked extremely ropey without their two centre-backs from last season. That would worry me over the course of the season. Also, they were extremely fortunate with a terrible decision by VAR to decide the blatant hand ball was not enough of a hand ball to make a decision. Senesi will no doubt still be wondering how he got away with that one, the moment he did it, he must have thought his evening was over. There is no question it was deliberate and no question it stopped a goalscoring opportunity as it stopped Ekitike from breaking through one on one, with no defender near him. With his pace, no one was going to catch him. Once again VAR fails to do its job in the most clear and obvious situation possible. It really is tiresome how badly the set up is affecting the game in such a negative fashion.

On this showing, I think Bournemouth look like a team that will be safe from relegation and probably in the chase for Europe once more, though the defence will need to tighten up if they are to qualify. They press so well that they are going to get a lot of goals from winning the ball back high up the pitch. Unfortunately though, they are going to concede a lot as well. Senesi looks weak and was all over the place at times, he will need to improve massively if they are to improve on last season's placing.

They also lack a bit in midfield, lots of hard work and industry but little else, they lack a player with the ability to break out with the ball like a Baleba can for Brighton & Hove Albion, or who can pick a pass like Wharton does for Crystal Palace. That is why Evanilson, for all his hard work, got no service. They are overly reliant on players, particularly Semenyo, breaking at pace with the ball. Teams that sit in against them will be a problem if they do not find a way to get Evanilson more of the ball in better areas. Semenyo will not often get the space he did in this match, and when he does it will usually be against teams like Liverpool that are able to take the risks due to creating chances themselves.

Liverpool

Alisson - not a lot he could do with the goals, other than maybe give a few players a kick up the arse to wake up. Some of his passing was sublime, the little round the corner balls with the outside of the foot were lovely, but he will not be happy without a clean sheet.

Frimpong - got forward well at times, though the understanding is not quite there yet with Salah. Showed good pace getting back but struggled physically and was bullied a few times, which is something he will need to work on. Some provision will need to be made to deal with long balls played high into his area as that is going to be targeted by some teams. A big forward will be able to physically cut him off and stop him even attempting to head it, unless he works on building up his strength.

Konate - I am not even going to try and list all the mistakes he made, he was partly at fault on both goals, his positional sense was abysmal all game. It was a disastrous performance, something he is sadly quite prone to. On a good day, Konate is one of the better centre-backs in the game, the problem is that he does not have enough good days, and even on a good day he is still likely to do something stupid and rash. I have seen excuses made for him, about him just having it too easy because there is no pressure on his place, but he knows there is pressure on his place as Liverpool just bought a player considered the best young centre-back in Europe by Serie A observers and are trying to buy Guehi as well. So he is playing for his place, but he just has not got the mentality. Konate loses his head far too easily, allows players half his size and strength to bully him and knock him about, he will throw himself into needless challenges and when they fail he will grab and grapple. His performance level is far too dependent on having someone alongside him to talk him through the game for a top flight defender who should be coming into his peak years.

van Dijk - was also having a bad day, but he is coming into the season undercooked after missing a couple of late preseason games through illness. He looks a little off the pace right now. The only worry is that just maybe it is age catching up with him, but I am of the opinion that he is just a bit ring rusty at the moment and will get better as the season goes on.

Kerkez - struggled up against Semenyo, who gave him a really difficult game, but it is telling that the goals only came after he went off. While he did struggle, he was always there to make sure Semenyo never had time and space. I just felt he was trying too hard as it was his debut up against his old team.

Mac Allister - clearly miles away from match sharpness and really struggled to start with. As the game went on, he got better and better though. He just needs some minutes in his legs to shake off the rust. While it was not a good performance from him overall, I have no worries that he will improve as he gets his match sharpness. You could see his timing was off as he has had so little game time ahead of the season. I am looking forward to him being fresh later on in the season after a much needed extended summer break.

Szoboszlai - very mixed game, broke up play well at times, did some good stuff in attack but also gave the ball away a couple of times. Looked like he is still coming to terms with his new role in the team.

Wirtz - struggled with the physicality. Bournemouth were able to get away with a couple of early fouls on him, which stopped him getting any momentum and he was struggling to adjust to the pace as well. There were some nice flashes, some lovely touches and passes but it was just not coming off in this game.

Salah - had a quiet game, like Wirtz (and in every game he plays in the Premier League to be honest) the Cherries were able to foul him with impunity to keep him off his game. If he challenged back, a foul was given against him, it is little wonder he gets frustrated. Showed a bit of fire and got his customary opening day goal, so not a bad day all in all.

Gakpo - one of the better players on the pitch. Tracked back well, was always dangerous going forward and scored a goal as well.

Ekitike - the more I watch Hugo Palindrome play, the more I like what I see. When Liverpool were first linked I was unsure, but since then I have been watching a lot of footage of him and I really liked what I saw. Seeing him in a Liverpool shirt, I am even more impressed. He works hard, has height, pace, skill and is an intelligent footballer too. A goal and assist on his home debut which were well deserved.

Endo - replaced Frimpong in the 60th minute. Struggled at right-back when he first came on, then got caught up field on the second Bournemouth goal. Settled in after that and was fine, but he did look rusty at first.

Robertson - was brought on in the stead of Kerkez in the 60th minute. Has an extremely poor game, was absolutely hopeless on the first goal and then caught up the pitch on the equaliser. Maybe it is rustiness for him as well, but he is really looking like a player whose legs have gone.

Gomez - replaced Ekitike in the 72nd minute. Had a solid game and made a big difference at right-back.

Jones - came on in the 72nd minute, taking the place of Mac Allister. Did ok, maybe even helped solidify the midfield a little.

Chiesa - took the place of Wirtz in the 82nd minute. Finally got his goal. Already a cult hero with a great song, maybe this is the springboard for him to finally make a place in the team his own? He has certainly never lacked for effort and causes problems for the opposition whenever on the pitch, but the quality he once had does not look to be there right now. Perhaps a boost in confidence can help bring that back?

Written by Tris Burke August 19 2025 06:39:51