AFC Bournemouth 1-3 Liverpool – Post match thoughts
Liverpool came out easy winners in this Capital One quarter final against Bournemouth. A lot has been made of the win with some even suggesting Liverpool put in some kind of super performance in a match that one would expect Brendan Rodgers’ side to win hands down. Which, to all intents and purposes, they did.
Rodgers continued with his three at the back approach which many would argue, due to the personnel wouldn’t make much difference. Rubbish defenders are rubbish regardless of where you play them. True to form in the early stages, Dejan Lovren reminded us all what a poor signing he’s been when he gave away possession straight to a Bournemouth player. Under no pressure whatsoever and having more time than Dr. Who’s Tardis. As fortune would have it the hapless Croatian was replaced at half time by Mamadou Sakho.
Liverpool took the lead following a long spell of possession. 52 passes apparently and if my memory serves me right, only the last three were really made in anger. Lazar Markovic crossing for Jordan Henderson to head back toward goal, Raheem Sterling playing as the makeshift striker poking home with his newly-shaven head. The game continued in that vain. The visitors controlling the game and possession. Then with 27 minutes on the clock the lead was extended.
Adam Lallana, who over the last couple of games has shown why he should be in contention for more regular starts, burst into the home penalty area from the left and unleashed a placed shot toward goal. His effort was palmed away by Artur Boruc. With the chance seemingly lost, the rebound fell to Marković on the edge of the box. His first-time drive hitting the back of the net through the packed area. 0-2 and Liverpool were totally in control. Bar a glaring miss from Bournemouth’s Yann Kermorgant.
Come the second half, Liverpool struggled to contain the bournemouth side who were pushing up and in no mood to surrender. Sterling however, extended the visitors’ lead on 51 minutes with a neat finish to complete a twisting run into the Bournemouth box. 0-3. I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that only then could one say the game was – reasonably at least – beyond doubt. The visitor’s seemed to lose concentration, for me. on 57 minutes the hosts pulled a goal back. A scrappy effort by Dan Gosling which gave Eddie Howe’s men some fresh impetus.
Fortunately Liverpool hung on (as they’re forever doing nowadays after getting their noses in front) to claim the win and advance to the semi-final of the competition. Seeing as the Reds have drawn Chelsea, it’s more likely that this is as far as they’re going to get this year. However, football as they say, is a funny old game and anything can happen over the course of 90 minutes.
The decision to play Sterling as a striker may well be Rodgers’ saving grace this season. He scored more goals yesterday than all of Liverpool’s strikers put together yesterday so this can only bode well. Especially if Daniel Sturridge ever recovers from injury this season. As far as the defence is concerned, Lovren should also be dropped “indefinitely” as per Simon Mignolet. His inclusion in the side like Rodgers filling out his own P45! The choice has to be between Sakho, Kolo Touré and Martin Skrtel. And that’s not exactly filling me with confidence.
Liverpool host Arsenal this weekend and my confidence, like that of the team is completely shot to pieces right now. A win would be perfect for the team. Great for moral and great for Rodgers who by all accounts is skating on very thin ice right now. The Northern Irishman is living off last season’s glory now but as any supporter who’s observed Liverpool’s decline over this last 20 years will tell you, it’s the future that counts right now.
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