Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)placeholder image
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool suffered a 3-2 loss against AFC Bournemouth which ended a 13-match unbeaten run.
Arne Slot believes Liverpool’s busy schedule is starting to take its toll as his side suffered a last-gasp defeat at AFC Bournemouth.
The Reds conceded a 95th-minute goal as they slumped to a 3-2 loss on the south coast. Liverpool had battled from two goals behind, with Virgil van Dijk scoring a header just before half-time and Dominik Szoboszlai netting his latest free-kick with 11 minutes of normal time remaining.
But Liverpool could not see the game out, with Amine Adli bundling home in the 95th minute from a long throw-in. It ended a 13-match unbeaten run and the Reds have yet to win a Premier League game in 2026.
Slot’s side were playing their eighth match within a 28-day period. They were without three defenders, with Ibrahima Konate on compassionate leave following the passing of his father, while Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni have long-term knee injuries. Alexander Isak is recovering from a broken leg and Federico Chiesa could not be involved because of a fitness issue. In addition, Joe Gomez was forced off after Bournemouth’s first goal and Wataru Endo - a centre-midfielder - had to operate in defence.
Slot felt that some of his troops looked tired, especially Jeremie Frimpong who was making a fifth successive start. The Liverpool head coach said: “If Bournemouth had to run more than that's because we had 67 per cent ball possession or something like that. Credit to them, it's definitely one of their strengths. I think they are top in almost every statistic when it comes to running.
“That's why I have to credit my players; if you go 2-0 down the way we did, again we showed mentality and fitness to come back into the game against one of the fittest teams in the league – and they only have to play once a week and, of course, that helps. That is not an excuse because a club like Liverpool is used to playing three times a week but we mainly do this with the same players and maybe last season that was a bit different. Last season we did not have three long-term injuries as we have now.
“As you could see in our line-up, I decided not to play Hugo [Ekitike]. That was not because I didn't like him or he wasn't good against Marseille, it was simply because I only have one No.9 available for the upcoming weeks and months.
“He was out two weeks ago and with so many games to play, you have to manage his minutes. I think for Jeremie Frimpong, it's safe to say the same. In the first half he was getting things and after half-time I think I could see the energy running out of him a little bit as well. So the end result is you then play two players not in their favourite position with Wata [Endo] and Dom, by the way they did well, but it is the reality of this moment.”
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