Liverpool’s 13-match unbeaten streak was brought to an abrupt end on Saturday night as the Premier League holders fell to a late 3–2 defeat away at Bournemouth, managed by Andoni Iraola. Despite moments of promise, the loss left supporters furious, with two players coming in for particularly harsh criticism and being branded “shocking” and “horrendous” by frustrated fans.
Bournemouth opened the scoring against the run of play in the 27th minute. Virgil van Dijk failed to clear his lines, allowing Alex Scott to keep the attack alive before teeing up Evanilson for a close-range finish. The hosts doubled their advantage soon after, with Alex Jimenez grabbing his first-ever Premier League goal. Liverpool were handed a lifeline just before the interval when Van Dijk atoned for his earlier error, powering home a looping header from Mohamed Salah’s corner to reduce the deficit.
The second half offered little in the way of inspiration from Arne Slot’s side. Despite a flurry of substitutions — including the introduction of Hugo Ekitike — clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Liverpool eventually hauled themselves level through Dominik Szoboszlai, who bent a stunning free-kick into the bottom corner after being set up by Salah. Any hopes of salvaging a point were crushed late on, however, as Bournemouth struck in the closing moments to snatch all three points.
Tactical Experiment Backfires
Slot opted for a bold 4-2-2-2 formation, pushing the full-backs high, deploying two central attacking midfielders, and allowing his forwards freedom to drift across the front line. While the system showed early promise, it quickly unravelled once Bournemouth took the lead. Liverpool struggled to impose themselves in the penalty area, especially with Salah and Cody Gakpo — both naturally wide attackers — asked to operate as a front pairing.
Although some supporters were intrigued by the tactical tweak, the absence of a true box striker was glaring. With Alexander Isak sidelined, Liverpool lacked a focal point, and Gakpo’s influence was minimal before he was withdrawn in the 73rd minute. He managed just 34 touches, only three inside the Bournemouth area, and created a single chance.
Salah also endured a frustrating evening following his return from Egypt’s underwhelming AFCON campaign. While two of his three efforts on goal were saved, his delivery was well below par, completing just one of eight crosses. His struggles in the final third typified Liverpool’s attacking woes.
Fans Let Rip
Very few Liverpool players escaped criticism at the Vitality Stadium. Florian Wirtz showed flashes of creativity, while Ekitike injected some energy after coming on, but the overall display fell far short of expectations despite heavy possession. Much of the backlash focused on Salah and Gakpo, with supporters on social media venting their anger.
The duo’s partnership was described as “unwatchable,” with some fans joking they “needed bleach” after watching them lead the line together. Others slammed their poor decision-making, loose control, and lack of composure, with one supporter summing it up bluntly as “painful viewing.”
What Happens Now?
As the season reaches a critical stage, Liverpool face tough questions about their attacking approach if they are to secure a top-four finish and Champions League football for 2025/26. The Salah-Gakpo combination appears ill-suited to leading the line, and with Isak unavailable, Ekitike looks the more natural option to spearhead the attack.
Liverpool’s focus now shifts to their final Champions League league-phase fixture against Qarabag, before daunting back-to-back Premier League clashes at Anfield against Newcastle United and Manchester City — games that could prove pivotal in shaping their campaign.
