Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Bournemouth as Virgil van Dijk scored but mistakes proved costly for Arne Slot's side, whose wait for a league win goes on
19:25, 24 Jan 2026Updated 19:31, 24 Jan 2026
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool.
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
VITALITY STADIUM, BOURNEMOUTH // Liverpool came from two goals against Bournemouth, with Dominik Szoboszlai looking to have spared some blushes on the south coast, only for Amine Adli to net a last-gasp winner.
Evanilson opened the scoring when Virgil van Dijk messed up what should have been an easy clearance. When Joe Gomez was off the pitch with an injury, Bournemouth doubled its lead through Alex Jiminez, giving Liverpool a mountain to climb.
Van Dijk got Liverpool back into the contest with a header from a corner just before half-time, at which point Milos Kerkez was hooked in favor of Andy Robertson. That, though, didn't change much in the pattern of the game. Szoboszlai and then Adli added their names to the scoresheet late in the second period.
READ MORE: Arne Slot's 'uneasy' Mohamed Salah confession after Liverpool tensions boiled overREAD MORE: Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool LIVE: Reds concede late on, score updates, how to watch
Winners
Few came out of this well. Hugo Ekitike, having not started, was missed, and those in the Liverpool attack that flowed so nicely midweek in the Champions League looked like a different set of players. It was not a great outing from any individual, nor collectively, with so little fluidity to test a Bournemouth side that has been struggling of late.
Losers
Defensively, Liverpool was all over the place again at times. Van Dijk should have done better with the opening goal and Milos Kerkez was simply too eager to impress when he was coming up against his former club. Gomez was actually playing well, but he picked up an injury in a position that the Reds simply cannot afford to lose more bodies. Arne Slot must simply hope it isn't too bad.
Player ratings
Alisson Becker (6). Couldn't do much with the goals but should have booted the ball out of play for the substitution to be made before Bournemouth scored its second. Came and collected a couple of crosses and long throws well but couldn't stop the one that led to the winner.
Jeremie Frimpong (5). In decent form of late, the Dutchman was crowded out a few times when he went forward. Gave possession away cheaply a couple of times too. Not his best showing and taken off second half.
Joe Gomez (6). In the team with Ibrahima Konate absent following the death of his father, the former Charlton man's quality has never been in doubt. Once again, here, he was superb in possession and completely at ease with the ball at his feet. Though there was nothing he could do about it, he then went off having been clattered into by Alisson.
Virgil van Dijk (6). Won his aerial battle with Evanilson, who seemed to pull onto him a few times, but was far too casual for the opener, which came via the Bournemouth striker. It was costly for Gomez, too, as he got an injury, but he scored to make up for it.
Milos Kerkez (4). Coming up against his former club, the Hungary left-back clearly wanted to prove a point. He squared up to Alex Jiminez early on and looked keen to impress, but quickly lost his way. Bournemouth's second came when Jimenez got in behind him. Perhaps he should have been taken out of the firing line from the start, rather than just at half-time.
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Ryan Gravenberch (6). Used his body nicely a few times to spin away from his marker but not as involved as he might have been. Got a little bit lost in the second half when Liverpool needed him to take control of things in the middle.
Alexis Mac Allister (6). Good in midweek, the Argentine snapped into a few tackles and covered the ground well. Started pretty well but faded in influence and was taken off.
Mohamed Salah (6). In the starting XI for the second successive time since coming back from AFCON, he looked sharp initially but couldn't quite get the final touch right. A couple of crosses looped into the back of the stand. One of a few not to show his best self.
Dominik Szoboszlai* (7). *Full of energy as ever, he couldn't really find that much space in the center of the field. Like Gravenberch, just wasn't on it when it came to creating chances, but scored a great goal from another free-kick.
Florian Wirtz* (6). *His form in recent weeks has been very promising and he was a creative hub around which Liverpool attacks were built here for a short time. Sometimes he was just a little too intricate, before becoming fairly anonymous second half. Visibly frustrated.
Cody Gakpo (6). Deployed up top to begin with in place of Hugo Ekitike, who was presumably given a bit of a rest, he played a similar role as the Frenchman did midweek, often coming from outside to in. Unfortunately, it (and the team) was nowhere near as effective this time. Held the ball up well at times but not enough of a threat.
Substitutes
Wataru Endo* (6). *On in the first half to play out of position, he did a decent job. He almost set up a goal with a good pass, too, but he is fundamentally a square peg in a round hole at the back.
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Hugo Ekitike (6). Didn't make that much of a difference when he came on. Found it hard to get into things and to get any space to work in.
Curtis Jones (6). On the ball a lot but needed more movement around him. Often crowded out or took too long to make a decision.
Rio Ngumoha (6): Came on and showed glimpses against, including winning the free-kick that Szoboszlai scored from.