After a derby win at the weekend, Liverpool hosted Bournemouth with a thinner squad then they might have liked. The Cherries proved to be a bit of a bogey team for the Reds this season, scoring a late equalizer to draw 2-2.
This was a match of mistakes and missed opportunities. Despite few changes to the starting eleven, Liverpool looked unsettled from the start. This was not the side that purred against Everton without having to shift into a higher gear. Too many touches and too much uncertainty plagued many Reds, especially in the early going.
Ultimately, they were made to pay for a shaky spell.
It started with Simon Mignolet making trouble for himself outside his area with the ball at his feet. It was a familiar sight, as the goalkeeper found himself unnecessarily under pressure before twisting a Cruyff turn. It was a sequence that unsettled Anfield and seemed to infect the team.
Even the ultra-cool Gini Wijnaldum was not immune. Within a couple of minutes, he sent a weakly weighted back pass to Mignolet which Benik Afobe was happy to nick for an easy finish. It was uncharacteristic from the player but encapsulated the side’s early lack of decisiveness.
While Liverpool was able to dig themselves out of the whole and draw level before the break, it took them well into the second half before they pulled ahead. Yet they never looked completely settled or confident while in front. Another sequence of scrambling saw them surrender two valuable points as they try to secure a Champions League place.
Here are four findings from the match.
