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Liverpool bounce back to beat Bournemouth
LIVERPOOL, March 7, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Liverpool recovered from back-to-back
defeats and conceding the opening goal on Saturday with a 2-1 win over
Bournemouth to move to within three wins of ending a 30-year wait for the
Premier League title.
Callum Wilson’s controversial early opener sent shockwaves around Anfield
after a run of three defeats in four games in all competitions.
However, the prolific duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane quickly turned
the game around and a heroic goal-line clearance from James Milner in the
second half secured the win to open a 25-point lead at the top of the table.
Jurgen Klopp’s decision to make seven changes for Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at
Chelsea in the FA Cup had been questioned as Liverpool lost the chance to
build some momentum heading into a big week.
Atletico Madrid visit fortress Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday
hoping to defend a 1-0 first leg lead and despite the enormity of that clash,
Klopp only rested Andy Robertson although first-choice goalkeeper Alisson
Becker was also sidelined by a hip injury.
The spread of coronavirus could have a big impact on the Reds’ title
celebrations in the weeks to come with the possibility of games being played
behind closed doors. But the abandonment of the normal pre-match ritual of
handshakes was the only disruption to the Premier League calendar this
weekend.
Liverpool’s dip in form has coincided with a lack of clean sheets for
Klopp’s men after a run of 10 in 11 league games between early December and
mid-February.
The hosts’ backline was breached again after just nine minutes, although
Klopp was rightly furious that VAR did not intervene to disallow the goal.
Joe Gomez was knocked off balance by Wilson to start the move and the
Bournemouth striker then had the simple task of tapping home Jefferson
Lerma’s cross.
Defeat leaves the Cherries still in the bottom three. They were left to
rue not making even more of a bright start as stand-in goalkeeper Adrian
turned over Nathan Ake’s powerful header.
Bournemouth played a large part in their own downfall and settled
Liverpool’s nerves when substitute Jack Simpson gifted possession to Mane in
a dangerous position. Despite a poor pass from the Senegalese, Salah steered
the ball into the bottom corner to mark his 100th Premier League appearance
for the club in style.
Eight minutes later, Liverpool led when Bournemouth again gave the ball
away cheaply. Virgil van Dijk released Mane in behind and he kept his cool to
slot into the far corner.
The champions-elect still needed a brilliant clearance from Milner to
secure all three points as he sprinted back to clear Ryan Fraser’s lob over
the stranded Adrian on the hour.
Wilson and Ake also passed up a huge chance to level in the final minute.
However, Liverpool could easily have had more goals themselves. Mane
curled a brilliant long-range effort off the bar and Roberto Firmino fired
over with a glorious chance for his first league goal at Anfield this season.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 2050 hrs