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Liverpool lethargic and weak against Bournemouth

By Paul Landwehr

Bournemouth's English striker Callum Wilson (L) vies with Liverpool's English defender Joe Gomez during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on March 7, 2020. (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images)
Bournemouth's English striker Callum Wilson (L) vies with Liverpool's English defender Joe Gomez during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on March 7, 2020. (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Liverpool were lethargic and weak in the challenge against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon as they won 2-1.

Alisson suffered a hip pointer in training this week and will be out til April according to Jurgen Klopp. Jordan Henderson could be fit to face Atletico Madrid come Wednesday. Andy Robertson missed the Bournemouth tie.

Liverpool had big names out but still managed to come away with from the game with a win.

With Adrian between the sticks in the Champions League return fixture at Anfield, the Reds will definitely need all hands on deck if they are to progress to the quarter-final.

They trail a stingy and belligerent Atletico 1-0 on aggregate, and anything but a clean sheet for Klopp’s squad will be lights out on their Champions League hopes this campaign. And they will need to create at minimum of two goals.

Goals for the Reds have been few and far between of late, they have not taken a lead into half time since the 29 January.

Likewise they have shipped six goals from their last four Premier League fixtures all against sides languishing in the relegation zone. Couple this with the 1-0 loss at Madrid, where they couldn’t manage a single shot on goal, and their crash out of the FA cup against Chelsea, and they have shipped nine goals in their last six fixtures across all competition.

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Thank goodness they have only had to face bottom sided cellar dwellers in this bad patch, or their fortunes could be a lot worse than they are. Their goal differential against those four bottom sides is zero!

But their next three top flight ties are with competition that will make them have to work hard to get the nine points needed to claim the crown. They face Everton in the derby away and then Crystal Palace at home before a much awaited tie with Man City at the Etihad.

James Milner saved their bacon on Saturday last, as the Reds gave up another early goal to hapless Bournemouth in front of the Kop no less. Milner had to dig in deep in the box to clear a volley off the goal line after a chip caught Adrian way out of position in the second half.

Mohamed Salah made fine work of a poorly played cross from Sadio Mane for Liverpool’s first and the equalizer in the first half. This would not be the first time Mane has hit a ball behind Salah in an obvious goal scoring chance.

A great through ball from Virgil van Dijk found Mane running up the midfield channel that he comfortably curled around Bournemouth keeperAaron Ramsdale for the Reds’ second and eventual match winner.

The Reds continued in their lethargic vain looking tired and slow to the ball for large parts of both halves. Fabinho, Joe Gomez, Georginio Wijnaldum, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Adam Lallana were all bodied off the ball on several occasions.

Again Klopp’s side failed to win aerial duals and second balls in the midfield. A lack of urgency in passing saw Liverpool turn the ball over time and time again in the middle of the park.

Mane hit the woodwork in the second half from 25 yards out with a rocket right footed curler. Roberto Firmino missed an unchecked unchallenged sitter from 12 yards out in front of goal and his home goal drought is now 19 matches.  This was his best chance of the day.

Next. Three reasons why Liverpool can still win the Champions League. dark

Otherwise the second half was a lackluster box to box kind of matter, with neither side providing much in the way of scoring chances. The chip over Adrian notwithstanding.

If the Reds continue in this fashion they will be out of Champions League come Wednesday and their champagne party for winning the Premier League will have to wait til the end of April when they take on Burnley at home.

Without Allison in goal, this is a very likely scenario for the next month until he returns.

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