Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool: Player ratings as Salah brace downs spirited Cherries
- Mohamed Salah's penalty gave Liverpool a first-half lead
- The Egyptian talisman added a stunning second after the break
- Arne Slot's side move nine points clear at the Premier League summit
Two goals from Mohamed Salah on either side of half-time afforded Liverpool a hard-earned 2-0 win away at Bournemouth.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola admitted before the weekend's fixture that he "really doesn't expect" his side to keep a clean sheet against the Reds, and that prediction was proven correct by Salah's first-half penalty despite Bournemouth making the better start to an intriguing clash of in-form teams.
The hosts charged around the Vitality Stadium with more belief than their manager, unsettling their illustrious visitors with a feverish press. Liverpool were hardly passive onlookers, taking advantage of the space Bournemouth left in transition to funnel forward with their own fleet-footed frontline.
Moments after Justin Kluivert spurned a glorious opportunity to fire Bournemouth level deep into an increasingly ragged second half, Salah struck his second goal of the afternoon. Chopping onto his familiar left foot from the right wing, the division's top scorer bolstered his personal tally with a delicious curler beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Arne Slot, who had cut such a pained figure for most of the match, allowed himself a cathartic scream of joy on the touchline. Victory for Liverpool affords them a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League table before Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday.
Bournemouth player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Ratings |
|---|---|
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga | 6.9/10 |
RB: Lewis Cook | 6.4/10 |
CB: Illia Zabarnyi | 7.5/10 |
CB: Dean Huijsen | 7.4/10 |
LB: Milos Kerkez | 7.4/10 |
CM: Ryan Christie | 7.0/10 |
CM: Tyler Adams | 7.0/10 |
AM: Justin Kluivert | 7.3/10 |
RW: David Brooks | 6.5/10 |
ST: Dango Ouattara | 6.8/10 |
LW: Antoine Semenyo | 7.0/10 |
SUB: Marcus Tavernier (66' for Brooks) | 6.8/10 |
SUB: Daniel Jebbison (80' for Christie) | 5.9/10 |
Subs not used: Will Dennis (GK), Matai Akinmboni, Maxwell Kinsey-Wellings, Zain Silcott-Duberry, Ben Winterburn, Daniel Adu-Adjei, Remy Rees-Dottin.
Liverpool player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Ratings |
|---|---|
GK: Alisson | 7.6/10 |
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold | 6.7/10 |
CB: Ibrahima Konate | 6.9/10 |
CB: Virgil van Dijk | 7.2/10 |
LB: Andy Robertson | 7.0/10 |
CM: Ryan Gravenberch | 8.4/10 |
CM: Alexis Mac Allister | 6.6/10 |
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai | 7.1/10 |
RW: Mohamed Salah | 9.1/10 |
ST: Luis Diaz | 7.1/10 |
LW: Cody Gakpo | 7.5/10 |
SUB: Curtis Jones (61' for Mac Allister) | 7.4/10 |
SUB: Conor Bradley (70' for Alexander-Arnold) | 6.0/10 |
SUB: Darwin Nunez (70' for Gakpo) | 5.8/10 |
SUB: Wataru Endo (88' for Salah) | 5.9/10 |
Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher (GK), Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota.
Player of the match - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
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