Liverpool were left stunned on Saturday night as Amine Adli scored a last-gasp winner for Bournemouth – and Alan Shearer has been left less than impressed
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer(Image: )
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Alan Shearer hasn’t held back as he delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool’s defending against Bournemouth. The Reds saw their 13-match unbeaten run come to an end against the Cherries on Saturday night.
The reigning Premier League champions fought back from two goals down at the Vitality Stadium, only for Amine Adli to score the winner with virtually the last kick of the game. However, the Reds were architects of their downfall, as some poor defending allowed Andoni Iraola’s side to race into a 2-0 lead.
Captain Virgil van Dijk misjudged a ball in behind ahead of Evanilson’s 26th-minute opener, played Alex Jimenez onside for Bournemouth’s second and failed to deal with a long throw into the box before Adli’s added-time winner.
And Shearer first took aim at Van Dijk, saying: “The first goal would give me most concern if I was a fan because, I mean, Van Dijk absolutely should clear it. I know he said bit windy, but that’s got nothing to do with it.
“He should clear it and then he didn’t do anything. In fact, he tried to pull himself away from blocking the cross, which was really strange.”
Turning his attention to Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, the former Newcastle United forward said on the Rest is Football podcast: “(Joe) Gomez should’ve been further over, closer to Evanilson, and the two full-backs in Kerkez and Frimpong – they were just nonexistent.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: A dejected looking Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after Amine Adli of Bournemouth scored for 3-2 during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Liverpool players look on dejectedly after Amine Adli scores Bournemouth's last-gasp winner(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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“They were actually on the edge of the box still when the ball went in the back of the net, despite the ball going over the top. It was staggering how much was wrong with that first goal.”
Shearer then added: “Their two full-backs, Frimpong and Kerkez, at times I think they’ve been all over the place, and we highlighted that in the first goal.”
Asked about Adli’s goal, Van Dijk said: "What I felt on that pitch was that I was clearly blocked, but obviously the ref and VAR don't give it and that's something we then have to accept. In my opinion, I was blocked. But listen, I can stand here and say it should not be given – but it's given and it is what it is.
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"Well the first goal, I think it was a difficult ball to judge during the circumstances – the wind was very tricky. I think you saw it especially when we played long balls on their side, it was very difficult to judge.
"So to concede that one, it's not an issue... because I think we controlled the game quite well before that. And then obviously when we were with 10 men, you can argue that you have to maybe kick the ball out or not. But to concede those two goals in a short period is obviously not good at all.
"But I think the goal I scored before half-time was very important in terms of getting that momentum and the feeling for the second half back. I think we showed [in the] second half we worked so hard to get back into the game with a great free-kick. I think we had some good opportunities as well but in the end the throw-in cost us."