Liverpool had to fight and battle for the three points against Bournemouth, but did so successfully — too often last season, it was unable to find a way to scrap to a win
Andoni Iraola before Bournemouth 0-1 Liverpool.
Andoni Iraola before Bournemouth 0-1 Liverpool.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
It was a battle, and it wasn’t pretty, but Liverpool did manage to end the period before the first international break on a high. Beating Bournemouth, it got over the line doggedly.
Match-winner Alexander Isak had been poor, in truth, until he scored. A slashed shot and a wild attempt at a cross were jeered by the home crowd, only for the Swede to silence them in the only way he knows how.
Bournemouth hadn’t lost at home since January 3 against Arsenal, when Andoni Iraola was still in charge on the south coast — Isak’s fourth goal in five league games this term the difference here.
It is in that context that the win must also be assessed: it wasn't free-flowing, and Liverpool will expect much more over the coming months, but it was significant nonetheless.
It is also almost certainly true that Liverpool wouldn't have found a way to win this game last season. Now, it looks to have more resilience when it comes under the cosh.
Of course, Bournemouth has not yet won a league game under Marco Rose, but it has played Manchester City and drawn with Newcastle, Everton and Brentford. It still has quality operators in the form of Alex Scott and Rayan, in particular.
Alexander Isak celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Bournemouth.
Alexander Isak celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Bournemouth.(Image: Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images)
But defensively, Liverpool stood strong. And, in time, it feels inevitable that the Liverpool front four will click — whoever it is that makes up that quartet. Bradley Barcola showed a few glimpses again here, and Cody Gakpo was as decisive as Isak.
Yes, there remains a question mark hanging over Florian Wirtz and the midfield balance, but add in Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha, and there are enough exciting pieces of the puzzle to stumble on a winning formula.
And ultimately, even though it hasn't fully ignited yet, Isak has four goals in five appearances to date in the Premier League — not bad in a forward line yet to hit its stride.
Arguably more importantly — for now, at least — at the back, $181 million (£135 million) central defensive duo Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk are forging a strong partnership. It is a cliche for a reason: all good teams are built on stable foundations.
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Liverpool only kept one Premier League clean sheet after back-to-back shut-outs against Sunderland and Nottingham Forest in February, but has now secured three in a row with its new duo proving invaluable.
There needs to be much more to come yet from Liverpool’s exciting forwards, and its midfield will need to look much more solid too. Dominik Szoboszlai was mixed again and Alexis Mac Allister could only do so much against the intensity of the Bournemouth central trio.
But the defensive pairing of Van Dijk and Jacquet stood strong and helped see the game out. If they and Alisson Becker, who made a good first-half save to keep the scoreline level, keep that up, eventually, the attack should follow.
For now, Iraola can simply be pleased that his side has changed one big thing from last season: this game — plus the response to going behind against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest — proves it has some resilience and a platform to build on, even if it remains a work in progress.