Bournemouth push Liverpool all the way but remain in the bottom three

Match Report

Liverpool 2 v 1 AFCB

7 March 2020

Attendance: 53,323

Bournemouth play well but are beaten by Klopp's troops - nine games left.

Few people would give Bournemouth a chance going to Anfield, even if Liverpool were on a poor run away from home. But Bournemouth took the lead with a break and Callum Wilson not being penalised for a shove on Gomez and Callum Wilson tapped in a square cross from Lerma. It could have been 2-0 when Aké tested Adrian with a header, but a mistake by Jack Simpson let Mané in and back in the game, and Salah soon made it 2-1 when Lewis Cook missed a pass. Bournemouth will rue missed chances in the second half. Fraser almost drew level with a chip that was cleared off the line and Nathan Aké will be having Eddie Howe shouting in his ear about why he didn't shoot, with just Adrian to beat on 90 minutes. You always felt Liverpool had enough though, especially when Mané pinged an effort off the post in the second half. Still, Bournemouth had the chance of a draw, but couldn't take it.

Bournemouth just made on change with Josh King out with a hamstring problem and Junior Stanislas coming into the team.

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It's a sunny and crisp day at Anfield. Bournemouth look like the villains in their dark blue shirts. Callum Wilson is already doing some chasing up front on his own. Aké puts a ball out for a throw in.

Liverpool are already dominating possession, but mainly with sideways passing. Stacey does well to head the ball away. Lerma made a good interception, but van Dyke clears up quickly.

Steve Cook clears from under his own bar as Alexander-Arnold put a wicked cross in. At least the flag has gone up for offside.

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Ramsdale is out quick to clear ahead of Salah. Bournemouth look like they are in two lines of five. Callum Wilson against Billing down to Lerma and his cross is put in by Callum Wilson 0-1 to Bournemouth on nine minutes. VAR takes ages over the decision but a goal is awarded despite a push early in the move by Wilson on Gomez.

Lewis Cook crosses well but just too high for Stanislas. Billing is fouled by Oxlade-Chamerlain. Milner concedes the corner. Aké heads well but Adrian gets something onto it before it comes ff the bar. Stanislas keeps out Salah on the break.

Adrian has to come out as come on strong on the Bournemouth break. Lewis Cook to Wilson and Billing can't quite get through the middle - it's clipped van Dyke's heel. Bournemouth look like they'll score on the break.

Ball in behind for Firminho past Steve Cook and Ramsdale saves. Steve Cook has done his hamstring. Jack Simpson will have to come on, Cook is off on 19 minutes.

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Stansials has his cross blocked. Wijnaldum on the break. Milner plays it square. Lerma gets his foot in. Lewis Cook gets his foot on and Liverpool have a corner. Lots of players are down. Wijnaldum needs treatment for a head injury.

Liverpool are certainly rattled. It's not flowing football from them. Simpson gives the ball away to Mané and Salah has shot right n the corner of the goal 1-1 on 25 minutes. Salah shot through Lerma's legs and Ramsdale was unsighted.

Lewis Cook almost gets Fraser away. Alexander-Arnold puts a cross along the six yard line but Simpson clears for a corner. It's bouncing around the box, but Bournemouth clear. It's another corner now to Liverpool.

Stanislas and Lewis Cook do well up the right. Gomez regains possession for Liverpool. Oxlade-Chamberlain has a shot blocked. Bournemouth are under a lot of pressure.

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Simpson intercepts but Lewis Cook misplaces his pass. Van Dyke pushes the ball forward and Mané is in the clear and he puts Liverpool 2-1 up on 33 minutes. Lewis Cook lost the ball and the gap opened up for Mané.

Great cross from Stacey, but he's offside. Mané handles the ball to stop it going out of play but is not given a yellow card, much to Lerma's disgust. Callum Wilson fouls Gomez. 

Milner sneaks in at the far post but hits a weak shot at Ramsdale. Adam Smith is injured after a push from Gomez. Stanislas has a drive and it's parried out for a corner.

Adrian punches as Liverpool break. Billing is getting after Liverpool players. Lerma wins a free kick. Stanislas can't stop a long kick from Ramsdale without giving a throw away. Wijnaldum wins a free kick off Billing.

Stacey clears. Fraser to Stanislas, Fraser to the back post but Billing can't get to it. Bournemouth defend well from Mané and Salah.

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Lewis Cook plays in Wilson but Adrian just arrives in time. Four minutes of added time. Fraser puts Stacey in trouble. Fraser wins a corner. Milner clears.

Wijnaldum and Alexander-Arnold, but Aké blocks. Adam Smith clears.

AFCB Possession 28 per cent, Shots 4, Shots on target 3, Corners 4, Fouls 6
Liverpool Possession 72 per cent, Shots 5, Shots on target, Corners 3, Fouls 5

Second half
Aké concedes a corner. Billing clears. Simpson clears ahead of Mané. Liverpool camp themselves in Bournemouth's half.

Oxlade-Chamerlain is blocked by Aké. Bournemouth are very deep. Wilson against van Dyke, can't get round the Liverpool player. Billing to Fraser, a ball in from Billing is aimless. Adam Smith does well.

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Simpson blocks Mané in the box. Lerma does fantastically to battle for the ball and eventually Mané fouls him. Still no card for Mané. Wilson does well to keep the ball. Bournemouth have some possession.

Billing sticks one over the top and Fraser is in chips and it's over the keeper, but Milner clears right on the line. Bournemouth were so close to an equaliser. Stanislas crosses and Aké is just beaten to the header, by Milner and Adrian.

Milner takes a free kick but Ramsdale clears. It's another corner now for Liverpool off Fraser. Aké wins the header. Adam Smith concedes a corner on 66 minutes.

A header from van Dyke is held by Ramsale. Solanke is looking to come on for Bournemouth. Stanislas goes off on 68 minutes. Wilson goes down, again noting from the referee. Salah has handled the ball out of the box. It's out for a corner, no it's offside.

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Solanke and Adam Smith come forward. It's to deep for Fraser. Firminho drives a ball across the box but Mané can't get a touch on it.

Mané goes for a shot from 30 yards and rattles the post. That was close. Sala cuts in side and drives at goal but shoots wide. Ramsdale got a touch on it. Salah's past Fraser and Milner crosses and Aké clears for a corner.

Solanke intercepts and Bournemouth get the ball up to half way. Fraser, oh Lerma has over hit a pass. Gosling is getting ready to come on. Lerma is subbed for Gosling on 80 minutes.

Ramsdale takes a long free kick. A shot goes wide from Oxlade-Chamberlain. Billing is injured. Solanke kneed him in the back/hip by mistake. Lallana replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain on 84 minutes. Billing is standing but hobbling.

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Bournemouth are down to 10 men. Mané and stacey go down and nothing is given. Billing comes back. Fraser wins possession but Liverpool win it back. Adrian has to come out to beat Solanke.

Bournemouth have a free kick. Stacey is fouled. Last minute. Now is a great time to score. Aké is free kicks it square and Callum Wilson has the ball stuck under his feet, he's offside. Why din't Aké shoot? What a chance. Four minutes of added time. Salah and Firminho misses a chance at the other end over the bar.

Four minutes of aded time and Callum Wilson has been booked for fouling Milner. Origi comes on for Firminho.

A long kick up field. Liverpool counter. Stacey blocks Origi.  Liverpool win a free kick off Adam Smith. That's it.

Summary
Bournemouth had a great chance to get a pint at the end with Aké bursting through, but his unselfish pass to Wilson just undid the good work. It wasn't a convincing performance by Liverpool, but they got the job done. Bournemouth lost this game though because of self-inflicted wounds. Jack Simpson and Lewis Cook will hold their hands up for mistakes, but more concerning is possible injuries to Steve Cook and Philip Billing. Bournemouth need everyone fit, and the only good omen Howe has is that Lerma is still available for the next game having not been booked. Bournemouth hung in the game but we are still waiting for their luck to change.

Liverpool

13 Adrián, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 12 Gomez, 4 van Dijk, 7 Milner, 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 

3 Fabinho, 5 Wijnaldum, 11 Salah, 9 Firmino, 10 Mané

Liverpool Subs: 8 Keita, 18 Minamino, 20 Lallana, 22 Lonergan, 27 Origi, 32 Matip, 76 Williams

AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 7, Stacey 6, Simpson 5, Aké 8, A Smith 6, Fraser 6, Lerma 7, Billing 7, L Cook 7, Stanislas 5, C Wilson 6

Cherry Chimes MoM - Nathan Aké

AFCB Line up

AFCB Subs: 1 Boruc, 4 Gosling, 21 Rico, 25 Simpson, 6 Surman, 44 Surridge, 9 Solanke

Ref Watch: Paul Tierney 2/10 - afraid to get the cards out.