(Video) Comical blunder just before Bournemouth’s goal likely left Arne Slot frustrated

 

 

Liverpool endured a double setback at the Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth took the lead on a frustrating evening.

The Reds had started reasonably well despite the wet and windy conditions on the south coast, but everything shifted in the 26th minute. A long ball forward should have been intercepted by Virgil van Dijk, yet a surprisingly lackadaisical defensive lapse from the Liverpool captain allowed Alex Scott to slip in and lay the ball off to Evanilson, who made no mistake in slotting it home.

The situation worsened when Alisson Becker accidentally collided with Joe Gomez while trying to block the shot, leaving the defender down amid Bournemouth’s celebrations. Gomez appeared dazed and was substituted shortly afterward for Wataru Endo after being deemed unfit to continue.

Liverpool’s troubles deepened in the 33rd minute as Alex Jimenez beat the offside trap and fired past Alisson to double Bournemouth’s advantage. The harsh weather on the south coast may have mirrored Arne Slot’s mood after the costly first goal, which forced him to bring on Endo in place of the injured Gomez—a stark reminder of Liverpool’s limited centre-back options, especially with Ibrahima Konate sidelined following his father’s death.

With reports suggesting the club will only make a January signing if the right opportunity arises, Slot risks being dangerously short in a key area. Beyond injuries, he would have been frustrated at how easily Evanilson’s opener came, with Van Dijk guilty of a basic defensive mistake.

Van Dijk did manage to halve the deficit in first-half stoppage time, but Liverpool still went into the break with plenty of problems to address after a damaging 45 minutes at the Vitality Stadium.