Reds twice lose a two-goal advantage in an unfathomable 4-3 defeat at AFC Bournemouth…
Liverpool’s impressive 15-game unbeaten run came to a shuddering holt on Sunday afternoon when the Merseysiders were dramatically defeated by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Sadio Mané and Divock Origi were on target as Jürgen Klopp‘s men strolled into a 2-0 half-time lead with an assured display that gave no indication of what was to follow after the break.
The hosts pulled a goal back from the penalty spot shortly before the hour mark but any sense of a comeback seemed to be nipped in the bud when Emre Can made it 3-1 a few minutes later.
Liverpool maintained their two-goal advantage until the final 15 minutes when the wheels inexplicably fell off in spectacular fashion as two goals in two minutes made it 3-3.
Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing moments and it was Bournemouth who found one when Loris Karius spilled a long-range effort at the feet of Chelsea loanee Nathan Aké deep into injury time.
The goal sparked jubilant scenes on the South Coast as Eddie Howe and his players recorded a first ever win over Liverpool.
Reflecting on a crazy turn around at his post-match press conference, Klopp remarked: “We were too static in our passing, kept the ball too long in the wrong moments and then passing too late, [so] the guy who concedes the pass is under pressure.
“Everything changed – not because the boys wanted [it to] only because they lost a little bit of concentration… We opened the door, but Bournemouth had to run through and they did it.
“Of course I’m not happy with the result. There were not a lot of moments where Bournemouth could get confidence, but when there was the moment they were immediately there.
“The atmosphere was really good. Eddie was on fire – even after 3-3 he pushed the boys up. We had our chance and then they scored the goal.
“It’s a wonderful story if you’re not on the wrong side. Today we were on the wrong side. That’s what we have to accept. We have to learn from it and we will do, for sure. Then everything will be good again. But in this moment it doesn’t feel like this, of course.”
Worryingly the encounter was a fourth time during Klopp’s relatively short reign that the Reds, who slip to third in the standings as a consequence, have been two goals ahead and failed to win.
Everyone involved will no doubt be eager to make amends when Liverpool return to action against West Ham United next Sunday.
So that’s what both us and Klopp thought about the game, how about you? Let us know your views below…
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