Premier League: Liverpool Return To Winning Ways Against Bournemouth
Liverpool recovered from back-to-back defeats to defeat Bournemouth 2-1 at Anfield on Saturday to move to within three wins of ending a 30-year wait for the Premier League title.
The champions-elect, however, had to fight back after conceding a controversial goal by Callum Wilson in the ninth minute.
Liverpool defender, Joe Gomez, was knocked off balance by Wilson to start the move and the Bournemouth striker then had tapped home Jefferson Lerma’s cross. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not intervene much to the disconsolation of manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds equalised in the 25th minute after Jack Simpson was dispossessed of possession by Sadio Mane and the Senegalese attacker passed the Mohamed Salah, who steered the ball into the bottom corner to mark his 100th Premier League appearance for the club in style.
The home team went ahead for the first time in the game eight minutes later after Virgil van Dijk intercepted the ball in the midfield and gave a through-pass to Mane, kept his cool to slot into the far corner.
The hosts needed a brilliant goal-line clearance from James Milner to prevent Ryan Fraser from hauling Bournemouth back on level terms in a nervy second half.
Liverpool could easily have had more goals themselves. Mane curled a brilliant long-range effort off the bar and Roberto Firmino fired over with a glorious chance for his first league goal at Anfield this season.
While Liverpool are in pole position to win the league, Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth are placed in 18th position, struggling in the relegation zone.