Final Score: Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
After two straight and rather frustrating draws, Liverpool were back amongst the goals when they faced Bournemouth at the Vitality. Our charge up the table was halted with the results against Everton and West Bromwich Albion. And there were fears as we came up against a Bournemouth side that had defeated us in the corresponding fixture last season.
We started the game in incredible attacking fashion as Philippe Coutinho scored one of the goals of the season as his jinking run down the left saw him beat a couple of players and then shoot low into the right corner of Asmir Begovic’s goal.
One quickly became two as Roberto Firmino did incredibly well to keep a ball from going out and Dejan Lovren dived in to score the second. Mohamed Salah had a glorious chance to make it three before he too had his goal of the season contender as he chopped and changed down the right before slotting the ball in for his 20th goal of the season.
The second half did see us extend the lead with Roberto Firmino scoring a deft header after Coutinho’s cross into the box. We could have scored a few more but that is how it stood and the result saw us move back into the top four.
Coutinho had a wonderful game but he was not the only one who performed well. Here’s how the Reds fared against the Cherries.
Liverpool Player Ratings
Simon Mignolet – 7/10
Mignolet was not troubled much but he did make a couple of good saves in the game to keep a clean sheet.
Joe Gomez – 7/10
Gomez was reliant at the back as he cut out almost every attack from Bournemouth’s left.
Dejan Lovren – 7.5/10
Lovren scoring for us should be one of the moments of the season, especially after the criticism Dejan has received. The defender was good throughout the game except for the one moment he let Defoe through on goal.
Ragnar Klavan – 7/10
Klavan had a pretty solid game and didn’t actually make a notable mistake either.
Andrew Robertson – 7.5/10
The Scot has been playing regularly since the injury to Alberto Moreno and this could have been Robertson’s best showing as he was great in defence and constantly supported the attack.
Georginio Wijnaldum – 7/10
Wijnaldum was his normal self as he ran his socks off for the side but he has to do more in the attack and in the defence.
Jordan Henderson – 7.5/10
Henderson tried to do the Coutinho like balls but he just could not get his range at the start before he started making runs to help out the attack.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7.5/10
The Ox was the one midfielder who consistently looked to go forward and join the attack. The former Arsenal man did hit the post as well after winning the ball back in the Bournemouth half.
Philippe Coutinho – 9/10
The Brazilian was mesmerizing for the Reds as he started the scoring and was a trouble for the Bournemouth defence throughout the game with his incredible passing and movement.
Roberto Firmino – 8/10
Firmino might not have the trickery of Coutinho and Salah but he did set up the goal for Lovren and scored from an instinctive header after meeting a rasping cross into the box.
Mohamed Salah – 8/10
Salah was irresistible once again as his link-up play with Coutinho, Firmino and even Oxlade-Chamberlain was great. On another day, he would have scored three but he should be happy with the one he scored today, which was a beauty.
Substitutes
Adam Lallana – 6/10
Got booked for a rash challenge just after coming on but it was great to see him get some good minutes under his belt.
Dominic Solanke – 6/10
Solanke did have a great shot on goal which was saved by Begovic.
Danny Ings – N/A
The Englishman didn’t have a lot of time but he did have one good chance to score which he shot wide.
