From one of the best displays of the season to a first-half collapse. Liverpool’s meeting with Bournemouth was frustrating.
On the back of completely dominating Marseille in Europe, Liverpool fans should have been fired up for this clash.
However, just like the draw with Arsenal earlier this month when things seemed to be looking up, the first half of Saturday’s clash suggested the Champions League success was once again a false dawn.
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Who was Liverpool’s worst player as they fell to a pathetic loss against Bournemouth?
Mohamed Salah chases the ball during Liverpool's Premier League match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
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Liverpool enjoyed the majority of the possession in the early stages but, as has been a common theme this season, failed to create much.
In the end, a mistake from Virgil van Dijk, followed by issues with Joe Gomez being replaced, saw the Cherries take a two-goal lead.
Liverpool did pull a goal back from a corner shortly before the half-time whistle, but they could have scored a lot sooner had Arne Slot not made one change.
Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong passing to nobody vs Bournemouth
Against Marseille, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong were called ‘superb’, and rightly so.
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They provided the width and many of the chances in France, linking up well with Liverpool’s forwards on the night.
However, the big difference between Wednesday and Saturday was that Slot decided to start Cody Gakpo up front ahead of Hugo Ekitike.
It was a call that made zero sense given how well Ekitike has played this season and the fact that Gakpo isn’t a natural nine.
As expected, his presence through the middle had a negative impact on proceedings and saw Frimpong and Kerkez left without a target man to aim at.
Slot is backing Liverpool for a top-four finish. Where do you think the Reds will end 25/26?
Slot predicted Liverpool will earn Champions League football in his pre-Bournemouth press conference!
Arne Slot prior to Liverpool v Leeds United - Premier League
Credit: Liverpool FC/Getty Images
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Rob Green sums up Liverpool problem vs Bournemouth
This issue was summed up well by former England goalkeeper Rob Green, who was covering the game live on BBC Radio 5 Live.
He said: “The issue with Liverpool’s shape is they look dangerous down the flanks, but there’s nobody to feed the ball into in the middle.”
Yes, that does tend to happen when you replace your only centre-forward and top goalscorer with a winger who hasn’t been in great form this season.
It’s become a running joke among the fanbase that Slot favours Gakpo, but it’s starting to look so true.
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