Liverpool got what they deserved after losing at the end death against Bournemouth, with the 3-2 defeat riddled with naivety from Arne Slot‘s side.
Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool
Premier League (23) | Vitality Stadium
January 24, 2026
Goals: Evanilson 26′, Jimenez 33′, Adli 90+5′; Van Dijk 45+1′, Szoboszlai 80′
1. Liverpool got what they deserved at Bournemouth
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Liverpool's (L-R) Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister waiting to restart the match after conceeding the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Usually, the opposition scoring a last-minute winner would hurt badly, but did any Liverpool fan really feel that way this time?
The fact is, this outcome was pretty easy to accept because it was one that the Reds fully deserved for yet another abject performance.
Bournemouth generated far more xG (2.3 to 0.83), created more big chances (6 to 1) and won more duels (38 to 33) as they dominated proceedings across the 90 minutes.
As such, it did not feel in any way like they had stolen the three points when Amine Adli poked home at the death.
2. Arne Slot can’t hide behind unbeaten run
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot applauds the travelling supporters after the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. The game finished 2-3.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
So ends the worst unbeaten run of all time that saw Liverpool lose zero, draw six and win just seven, all while playing largely poorly.
And with it goes an important shield for Arne Slot against criticism for the level of performance his team have been putting in of late.
Now, that the Reds have won just five of their last 18 league outings will come back into focus, as well as the fact that they have been in bottom-half form since September.
Make no mistake, some of the decisions made over the summer are partly to blame, and so Richard Hughes and Co. should be in the firing line.
But is this squad so flawed that it should only be capable of producing those numbers of points? Not a chance.
3. Wataru Endo’s substitution delay shows Reds’ naivety
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Liverpool's Wataru End? waiting to come on to replace Joe Gomez during the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
At times as fans we can be guilty of forgetting that not everything in football can be controlled, and that sometimes luck can go against you.
But there was nothing unfortunate whatsoever about the fact that Liverpool had just 10 men on the pitch when they conceded their second goal in this game.
During the seven-minute spell between Joe Gomez being forced off around the Bournemouth opener, the Reds had ample opportunity to either make a soft foul or put the ball out, yet failed to do so.
And they subsequently got everything they deserved for that barely believable naivety, conceding another goal as they found themselves short-handed at the back.
That might seem a harsh assessment, but this is professional football – it is quite simply inexcusable for those involved not to have realised that their numerical inferiority could cost them at this level.
4. Arrogant Liverpool won’t enter centre-back market
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Liverpool's Joe Gomez lies injured during the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
If a Gomez injury was enough to force Liverpool into the January transfer market, then they would have already dipped into the market, safe in the knowledge that this was always going to happen at some point before the end of the season.
As such, you suspect the Reds will instead stick to their usual line of not making any panicked moves, an approach they insist helps them retain a strong record in terms of transfers.
Of course, that claim does not stand up to scrutiny given eight signings were made in the summer, and presumably the club’s recruitment staff are convinced by all of them.
What’s more, any addition now would only be getting ahead of the need for at least one centre-half that is clearly going to be there come the end of the season.
Unfortunately, Liverpool will inevitably stick to their guns in making this ‘smart’ decision, even if it is obvious to everyone that it is wrong.
5. Virgil van Dijk’s off night sums it up
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It has rarely been said during his Liverpool career, but Virgil van Dijk cost his team big time in this one.
The Dutchman’s weak clearance attempt was key to them conceding the opener, and he followed that up by positioning himself far too deep to ruin the defensive line for the second.
If you were being generous, you could say that it was unlucky for the manager that such a reliable performer had an off night, given that it basically never happens.
But then it should not be forgotten that so many of the Reds’ key men have played beneath their ability this season, and so there has to be a common denominator.
Usually, when a squad is not performing as it should, there is one man who takes the blame.