Liverpool's season hit yet another low following defeat to Bournemouth, with the Reds falling to a stoppage time goal at the Vitality Stadium as questions remain over Arne Slot's side
James Findlater Content Editor
11:12, 25 Jan 2026
Mohamed Salah reacts after Liverpool's defeat to Bournemouth
Mohamed Salah reacts after Liverpool's defeat to Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool’s season hit yet another low on Saturday as the Reds’ unconvincing unbeaten run came to an end at Bournemouth.
A stoppage-time strike from Amine Adli sentenced Arne Slot’s side to a 3-2 defeat at the Vitality Stadium - the first in 14 games, although more worryingly, Liverpool has now won just five of its last 18 league outings.
Things could still get worse this weekend, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Brentford and Newcastle all playing on Sunday, meaning the Reds could drop as low as eighth as their top-four push continues to stall amid a number of concerning performances from their biggest names.
READ MORE: Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa 'tells Trent Alexander-Arnold to leave club this summer'READ MORE: Alisson ignores direct orders from Arne Slot as Liverpool failure proves costly
Virgil van Dijk had a night to forget yesterday, with the Liverpool captain not covering himself in glory for any of Bournemouth’s goals, while Mohamed Salah finds himself coming in for some brutal verdicts from the UK’s media. Here’s what they made of the Reds’ latest defeat…
Fisher wrote: "For Liverpool, this was another sobering experience. Virgil van Dijk made amends (with his goal) for presenting Bournemouth the lead and Milos Kerkez, who was exposed when Alex Jimenez doubled the hosts’ lead and struggled on his return to the south coast, was hooked at the interval.
"On this evidence Liverpool would be naive to allow Andy Robertson to depart for Tottenham. Mohamed Salah was anonymous, his greatest contribution backheeling the free-kick to Szoboszlai for his goal."
Steele wrote: "Liverpool are the Premier League’s answer to Bazball. One minute, they are a joy to watch and look like a team ready to conquer the world and win trophies galore. The next, they are anything but and their performance makes one think another root-and-branch inquest is necessary.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League game against Bournemouth
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League game against Bournemouth(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
"For the unacquainted to Bazball – sorry to hear that if so – it refers to the current rendition of the English men’s cricket team and its brash style led by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. When it is good, it is really good. A thrill-ride that sparks thoughts over just how far this team can go. When it is bad, it is really bad and downright depressing.
"The narrative around it seems to change almost every match, just like Arne Slot’s Jekyll and Hyde Liverpool, who flit between the excellent and embarrassing match by match."
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Jonathan Northcroft - The Times
Northcroft wrote: "Virgil van Dijk complaining, Arne Slot with his arms crossed, Mohamed Salah looking up at the heavens in the rain — and scenes at the Vitality Stadium. At the death, with almost the last kick, Bournemouth had done it. And Liverpool’s season was back in reverse again.
"It was some denouement, some picture — but no more than both sides, and the game itself, deserved. Liverpool were predictable, risk-averse — they defended erratically and squandered the momentum gained by a great result in Marseille in midweek, while Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth were… well Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth: indefatigable, forthright and a thorn in the side.
Amine Adli celebrates after scoring Bournemouth's winner against Liverpool
Amine Adli celebrates after scoring Bournemouth's winner against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
"It was Liverpool’s first defeat in 11 games and only Bournemouth’s second victory against them in 16 games but you wouldn’t have known it. Bournemouth began so well, absorbing early pressure before slicing through Liverpool with their long passing, exposing the weakness on Liverpool’s left side caused by their old player, Milos Kerkez’s, lack of nous and a slow-starting Van Dijk."
Wallace wrote: "There were 94 minutes on the clock when a dramatic defeat was finally inflicted on Liverpool, the kind of finale when everything changed in the moment and renewed all those questions about the fragility of Arne Slot’s team."
The journalist added: "For Liverpool it was a significant blow. They had done their best to throw it away in the first half and spent the next hour trying to undo the damage."
Wallace continued: "A second straight start post-AFCON for Mohamed Salah and Slot’s erstwhile rebel was anonymous. An error from Virgil van Dijk for the first Bournemouth goal, offset somewhat by a good finish from the captain for Liverpool’s first.
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"Even so one can see the problems."