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Liverpool suffered a 3-2 loss against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Tim Sherwood told of his surprise that Hugo Ekitike did not spearhead Liverpool’s attack against AFC Bournemouth.
Liverpool came from two goals behind against Bournemouth before Amine Adli scored in the 95th minute. Both of the Reds’ efforts came via set-pieces, with Virgil van Dijk heading home from a corner and Dominik Szoboszlai netting his latest free-kick.
But from open play, Liverpool lacked any real cutting edge and managed to create just one big chance throughout the game. It was a stark contrast from the performance that earned a 3-0 victory over Marseille in the Champions League just three days earlier.
Reds head coach Arne Slot made only one change to his team, with Ekitike dropping to the substitutes’ bench in the place of Cody Gakpo. And is was a decision that Sherwood could not understand given Ekitike’s threat.
What’s been said
The former Tottenham Hotspur manager said on Premier League Productions: “It's very easy to manage the game in hindsight but I was so surprised Ekitike didn't start the game. He's in good form and sets the press off for them. [Bournemouth] have got good players, [Marcos] Senesi can use that ball, it's like leaving a quarterback without any pressure on him. He can find a pass and that's exactly what he did for the first goal, he had a world of space.
“I am so surprised, not only for his attacking prowess but the way he triggers the press, Ekitike, that he wasn't starting. It was a massive surprise. We said before the game why this boy isn't playing. It worked so well before Marseille with Mo Salah and Ekitike and he leaves him out for Gakpo.
There is still quality and should have won the game. Easy in hindsight but I'd have talked to the player. Perhaps he would have said to the manager, which we don't know, that I need a rest.”
Ekitike has scored 12 goals since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt for up to £79 million in the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old is currently Liverpool’s only natural striker, with Alexander Isak recovering from a broken leg.
Michael Owen believes that Slot is protecting Ekitike’s fitness, having recently had a hamstring issue. The ex-Liverpool centre-forward said: “He's been so important now and was coming back from injury. He was injured, came back and probably played him too much in hindsight then they brought him back again and he's played 79 minutes against Marseille. Do you start him and play him and hour or manage his minutes? Because he's that important and with Alexander Isak being out for the season basically, they're probably trying to wrap him up in cotton wool.”
Slot explains decision
Slot confirmed that the reason Ekitike was rested was due to the lack of options that he has with Isak sidelined. The Liverpool head coach said: “As you could see in our line-up, I decided not to play Hugo. 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.”
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