AFC Bournemouth returned from their mini winter break to host Liverpool at Dean Court on Sky Sports Super Sunday.
The game was set between the two form sides of the top flight of English football. But whilst the media may well have been focussed on the absence of Mo Salah for the visitors, the hosts were missing numerous players for this fixture.
At left-back, James Hill made his full Premier League debut after being recalled from his loan spell from Championship side Blackburn Rovers. This was because Milos Kerkez is out injured, Lloyd Kelly is only just returning from his injury and was only fit enough for the bench and Dango Outtarra who has also filled this role is away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In central defence, Chris Mepham was partnered with Illia Zabarnyi due to Marcos Senesi serving a suspension.
In attack and another forced change saw Luis Sinisterra start in the absence of Antoine Semenyo, who like O.Dango is representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The bench included Gavin Kilkenny, whose last league appearance was in League One for Charlton in April 2023, Emiliano Marcondes who also hasn’t played since the end of last season, whilst on loan with Nordsjaelland in Denmark and Ben Greenwood, who has never made an appearance in the Football League or Premier League.
To compound the problem further, AFC Bournemouth ended the game with ten men after Max Aarons left the field with a hamstring problem. With Adam Smith and Ryan Fredericks also unavailable, this now leaves the Cherries without any first-team fully recognised out-and-out right-backs or left-backs.
🍒 AI says it’s too early to save if Aarons has pulled his hamstring, but says it “doesn’t look good”. Admitted they may have to look at the full back area in the remaining days of the window. #afcb https://t.co/yL5DWrf1kV
— Kris Temple (@kristemple) January 21, 2024
After the game, AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports…
“I think they were much better in the second half and were much more intense. They were winning the second duels and were much more clinical. We had corners and some shots but didn’t score the goal when it was still 0-0. In the end they were better.
“We have to be at our best to compete with this opposition. We kept the game quite level for a while but as soon as we conceded the first goal probably, they did things more quickly and they made us pay.
“They were more intense. We weren’t so aggressive or made the fouls that we needed to make. The physicality they put into the game you have to match. We did this for a lot of minutes but didn’t keep that level.”
Man of the match against Liverpool
Hill
Tavernier
Christie
Sinisterra
Someone else
"They were more intense…"
Andoni Iraola says his side couldn't match Liverpool in the second-half 🙄 pic.twitter.com/pxpuz9hlUc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 21, 2024
Kicks_On_66
Three of their goals were very good players making very good plays. Their league-best defense neutralized our attack in the second half almost entirely. Despite the score, I don’t think there’s any shame in this match. Just need to turn the page and get back to work. There are a lot of points out there for us.
"They'll be fine, I've got absolutely no doubt about that" 🤝
Jamie Redknapp and @Carra23 reflect on Bournemouth's performance against Liverpool and what it means going forwards for the rest of the season ⏩ pic.twitter.com/wPxSdfnml2
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 21, 2024
Sandman2 said…
We always seem to end up just rolling over and having our tummies tickled by the top teams. That’s now 0-4 Arsenal, 1-6 City and 0-4 Liverpool. The three bottom teams in this league are shite but they all seem to at least try to make life hard for the top teams when they play them.
Vlad_The_Impaler replied…
Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you play the best teams you let in more goals, the high press is at it’s most vulnerable against top teams that are rapid on a quick turn- a comfortable ball player good in confined spaces that gets past the first man press that takes out half the team and you then find yourself 3v3 situations against the best and pacey attackers in the world.
We could’ve prevented a couple today, probably overplayed too much and tried too smart when it wasn’t needed. They did get some outrageous luck on all 50/50’s deflections and the third goal.
And we did beat the biggest team in the World at Old Trafford 3-0 last month, I know they’re not what they used to be or the same level as City and Liverpool but it was still a historic result and they did still have technically better players in the line up than us but we won 3-0.
I think City in a few weeks is certain to be a familiar 4-0 as well but hopefully we just make the most of all the other fixtures and push as high place possible. – To join the conversation, click here.
