A sluggis Liverpool were beaten 1-0 at Bournemouth on Saturday, with Mohamed Salah’s missed penalty summing up the afternoon.
Objective: Count 28′
Alisson (out of 10) – 6th
Alisson was as usual reliable for Liverpool on Saturday – if only that could have been true for some of his team-mates.
He showed steady hands a few times and his distribution was also reliable and couldn’t hurt Philip Billing’s flyhalf.
Trent Alexander Arnold – 5th
After a series of improved forms, it has too often been like the lackluster Trent we saw earlier in the season.
He allowed Billing to put Bournemouth ahead after the close – in fairness, others were to blame – and he struggled to influence things in the final third. Lost the ball cheaply at a point in the first half that should have given the hosts the lead.
Ibrahima Konate – 5th
Konaté has been great since returning from injury, but it was an oddly sloppy performance from him.
Unpredictable all the time, fouls and losing the ball, he looks like Joel Matip and Joe Gomez this season.
A powerful forward thrust was a rare good time.
Virgil van Dijk – 4
When Van Dijk is like that, it can be really frustrating to watch. We all know he is a relaxed footballer but he was guilty of being too lazy here, beaten too easily by Alassane Ouattara for Billing’s goal.
Also denied on the line by Jefferson Lerma and then heading wide with the door open, on a really bad day for the number 4.
Andy Robertson-6
By his 29th birthday, Robertson was one of Liverpool’s best outfield players.
A quick run and shot early nearly put the Reds ahead and he provided constant energy, but like so many, he lost his way as the game progressed.
Unable to connect to Darwin Nunez. Fabinho – 5
Fabinho retained his place in the No.6 role and was a bit of a disappointment against the Cherries, not dominating the midfield battle at all.
He provided safety on the ball but it took more and he still doesn’t look the same.
A touchdown pass destroyed some of the momentum the Reds had built.
Harvey Elliot – 5
Elliott was outstanding against Man United last weekend, but his influence here has been quite the opposite.
There were some nice touches early on, but he was physically outplayed a few times and generally struggled to beat Bournemouth midfielders. replaced at halftime.
Stefan Bajcetic – 5
Bajcetic replaced Jordan Henderson in Liverpool’s only move but he really struggled with his midfield colleagues.
The Spaniard simply couldn’t dictate the game and didn’t offer enough forward movement as the game passed him by.
A reminder that he’s only 18 – days like this will come.
Mohammad Salah – 4
Salah enjoyed a week of accolades after becoming Liverpool’s top scorer in the Premier League, but it was a nightmare day for him. A first-half shot on goal was about as good as before the break before his missed penalty proved so costly.
It wasn’t even close!
Totally overpowered and a completely different player to the one that tore United to pieces.
Darwin Nunez – 5
Nunez is a bright but raw footballer and the latter was in effect on Saturday.
There were far too many sloppy fouls and wasteful passes from the Uruguayan, who couldn’t bond with Salah and Cody Gakpo as well as he did last weekend.
Gakpo led the line again after some really promising form but like so many it was disappointing. He had rightly ruled out an offside goal and tried to drop to influence the situation, but the hosts’ defense generally held him up well.
A few power runs in the middle showed promise, but the end product wasn’t there.
Substitute
Diogo Jota (for Elliott, 46′) – 7
Denied by Neto almost immediately after being substituted, winning the penalty. alive.
James Milner (in place of Alexander-Arnold’, 65′) – 6
Was persistent in his efforts at right-back and played a key role in the penalty kick incident. Jordan Henderson (for Fabinho, 65′) – 6th
Brought some authority but too little technical quality displayed.
Roberto Firmino (for Nunez, 65′) – 5
Don’t come into play.
Fabio Carvalho (for Bajcetic, 87′) – N/A
No time to tell the difference.
Unused Subs: Adrian, Matip, Tsimikas, Arthur
Jurgen Klopp – 4th
After one of the Premier League’s big wins last time out, Jurgen Klopp expects a strong follow-up performance.
However, Liverpool have been so, so poor, with the same old flaws that have haunted them as they have so often this season, from a failing defense to a lack of intensity. Klopp is most responsible for this and you wonder how the hell they can be so sloppy.
This looks like a major blow to the battle for the top four.
Player Rating Definitions: 10 = Flawless | 9 = Excellent | 8 = Very good | 7 = Good | 6 = Average | 5 = Below Par | 4 = Bad | 3 = Very bad | 2 Terrible | 1 = Absolutely not
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