‘Unacceptable’ – Trent Alexander-Arnold SLAMS Liverpool for lack of fight during disappointing Bournemouth defeat

‘Unacceptable’ – Trent Alexander-Arnold slams Liverpool for lack of struggle in disappointing Bournemouth defeat

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said his side’s performance against struggling Bournemouth on Saturday was “unacceptable”.

WHAT HAPPENED? Bournemouth were relegated from the bottom of the Premier League table with a surprise 1-0 win over Liverpool on Saturday. The Cherries were beaten 9-0 by the Reds earlier this season but fought back thanks to Philip Billing’s first-half goal. Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah missed a second-half penalty for the Reds and Alexander-Arnold believes Bournemouth simply wanted the win more than the Reds. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: “This is the moment of the season where everyone knows what they’re fighting for and it’s clear Bournemouth are in a relegation battle,” he told the club’s official website.

“They’re fighting to survive. But every team in the league is fighting for something, so it means a lot to get the three points. I think looking back now they probably wanted it more than us and that’s something unacceptable.” And we need to make sure things like this don’t happen again.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Liverpool’s shock defeat to Bournemouth has dimmed their chances of finishing in the top four and qualifying for next season’s Champions League. The Reds are now six points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur, albeit with one game to play, and have managed just three wins from 13 Premier League away games so far this season. DID YOU KNOW? Liverpool have lost consecutive Premier League games against opponents who started the day bottom of the table for the first time since December 2010/February 2011 (against Wolves and West Ham respectively).

WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR LIVERPOOL? The Reds next travel to Real Madrid in the Champions League to come back from a 5-2 deficit in the Round of 16 after the first leg at Anfield.

Also…

Lionel Messi heir should make Liverpool alter Roberto Firmino transfer plan as $64m claim Madelyn gt

Liverpool lose Roberto Firmino at the end of his contract this summer. The Reds have no intention of bringing in a replacement but they should be tempted.

The priorities for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp this summer are clear. Firstly, the midfield makeover is the number one problem to solve.

A central defender could then be required depending on whether there are offers to consider for Joël Matip while Roberto Firmino leaves definitively. But while replacing Firmino in the transfer market is not on the agenda according to ECHO, it shouldn’t be a decision set in stone if the right opportunity presents itself.

In a way it makes sense to let Firmino leave without another player arriving. Firmino is now sixth choice, having however spent the last 18 months injured and young options like Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon need space to emerge when the time comes.

But it’s equally unclear how soon Luis Díaz will be back in full swing, and Diogo Jota has spent a significant portion of every season he’s been at Anfield on the sidelines.

Liverpool shouldn’t buy just any striker, but letting Firmino go without letting anyone in would be a risk, even with options like Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho able to get into the forward line as well. Spanish outlet Sport report that Barcelona are ready to let their wonderkid Ansu Fati out of Camp Nou for just $64m (£53m/€60m) to raise much-needed funds.

Fati, who is only 20, took on Lionel Messi’s number 10 shirt when the Argentine joined PSG and is the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history.

“We cannot rule out the sale of an attacking player this summer,” Barcelona president Joan Laporta has already admitted (via TalkSport).

“When Memphis Depay left, we could have signed a striker, but the economic reality is very difficult and we cannot rule out selling a striker.”

With Fati’s departure looking unlikely from the outside, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal held talks with the player in February.

Capable of playing in one of three forward positions, Fati has scored 25 goals and provided nine other assists as a number 10 in nearly 100 appearances for Barcelona, ​​but finding playing time under Xavi has been difficult this season. His 36 appearances since the start of the campaign have each lasted just 37 minutes on average, which could make him a salable asset at a time when Barcelona need to cut their wage bill and raise funds.

If he really is available for just $64m, then Liverpool should be interested. At this price, the Reds should modify their transfer plan.