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Bournemouth 0 Liverpool 2: Reds extend lead at top of Premier League to NINE through Salah double after VAR controversy
ENGLAND and the Egyptian king saw off battling Bournemouth to give Liverpool a win they barely deserved. Referee Darren England took charge of his first Reds’ game since his VAR howler had cost them a goal in a defeat at Tottenham in September 2023. GettyMohamed Salah’s brace ensured a 2-0 win for Liverpool at Bournemouth[/caption] ReutersSalah scored either side of half-time[/caption] RexAndoni Iraola was left rueing controversial ref decisions and wasteful finishing[/caption] TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST MOVES FROM THE JANUARY WINDOW And it was his decision to award a soft penalty for Lewis Cook’s challenge on Cody Gakpo that allowed Salah to open the scoring from the spot in the first half. Bournemouth were the better side for most of the game and almost equalised when substitute Marcus Tavernier hit the post and Justin Kluivert fluffed his follow-up. But when another Cherries attack faltered in the Reds’ box Arne Slot’s team broke brilliantly and Salah curled home a superb second. The word from inside the Vitality before kick off was that no-one had ever seen a Bournemouth team looking so confident ahead of a meeting with a top-of-the-table team. And why not? Iraola’s side had already recorded home wins over the other members of the top four going into this weekend – Arsenal, Manchester City and, seven days earlier, Nottingham Forest in a 5-0 feast. Bournemouth backed up that sentiment immediately, with Antoine Semenyo robbing Trent Alexander-Arnold and getting a shot off inside 12 seconds. Another Alexander-Arnold error let in Justin Kluivert in the 13th minute but Alisson beat the shot from a narrow angle behind for a corner. Liverpool looked uncomfortable on the flanks and unconvincing in attack. They produced only tame efforts from Gakpo, Diaz and Salah before Dominik Szoboszlai finally tested Kepa Arrizabalaga. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS But soon afterwards came the controversial penalty. Bournemouth captain Cook did let Gakpo get the wrong side of him and may have knocked him off balance but if anything, the Dutchman seemed to trip himself. VAR did not see enough to recommend that England should think again and from the spot Salah stroked home his 20th Premier League goal of the season. Bournemouth thought they had an equaliser when David Brooks tucked the ball home after Milos Kerkez’s cross was deflected. But VAR confirmed the on-field decision that Kerkez had been offside. Alexander-Arnold sent a free header straight at Kepa and Szoboszlai miscued a shot but the Cherries could still feel a bit hard done by to be behind at the break. The home team began the second half as they had the first. Both Dango Ouattara and Kluivert went for Brooks’ cross and the Burkina Faso striker got the last touch, heading wide. Seconds later, Kluivert’s goalbound volley from a Semenyo centre was blocked by Ibrahima Konate. And there were not 50 minutes on the clock when an intricate exchange of passes released Semenyo, only for Alisson to block the shot. Liverpool were rattled. Ryan Gravenberch and midfield partner Alexis Mac Allister were booked in quick succession for halting Kerkez and Ouattara on the break, respectively. The Reds were grateful when they could finally relieve the pressure, but Mac Allister and Salah sent shots wide. England continued to antagonise the home fans with his decisions, prompting chants of “You’re not fit to referee” and “Who’s the Scouser in the blue?” Booking Virgil van Dijk for a robust challenge on Ouattara did not put the referee in their good books. Bournemouth finally seemed to have got what they deserved when substitute Tavernier’s shot came back off the inside of the post and the ball fell to the onrushing Kluivert. But the Cherries’ top scorer could only skew his shot over the bar. Was that the home team’s best chance gone? It was. Liverpool broke from the edge of their own box and Curtis Jones fed Salah. The Egyptian King used Kerkez as a screen and curled a delicious shot into the far top corner. Things still were not comfortable for the league leaders. Semenyo had yet another shot and put it just wide. Alisson made a fine stop to stop the ball deflecting in off two defenders. And Liverpool escaped with a precious, precious three points. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. Commentary
ENGLAND and the Egyptian king saw off battling Bournemouth to give Liverpool a win they barely deserved.
Referee Darren England took charge of his first Reds’ game since his VAR howler had cost them a goal in a defeat at Tottenham in September 2023.
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST MOVES FROM THE JANUARY WINDOW
And it was his decision to award a soft penalty for Lewis Cook’s challenge on Cody Gakpo that allowed Salah to open the scoring from the spot in the first half.
Bournemouth were the better side for most of the game and almost equalised when substitute Marcus Tavernier hit the post and Justin Kluivert fluffed his follow-up.
But when another Cherries attack faltered in the Reds’ box Arne Slot’s team broke brilliantly and Salah curled home a superb second.
The word from inside the Vitality before kick off was that no-one had ever seen a Bournemouth team looking so confident ahead of a meeting with a top-of-the-table team.
And why not? Iraola’s side had already recorded home wins over the other members of the top four going into this weekend – Arsenal, Manchester City and, seven days earlier, Nottingham Forest in a 5-0 feast.
Bournemouth backed up that sentiment immediately, with Antoine Semenyo robbing Trent Alexander-Arnold and getting a shot off inside 12 seconds.
Another Alexander-Arnold error let in Justin Kluivert in the 13th minute but Alisson beat the shot from a narrow angle behind for a corner.
Liverpool looked uncomfortable on the flanks and unconvincing in attack. They produced only tame efforts from Gakpo, Diaz and Salah before Dominik Szoboszlai finally tested Kepa Arrizabalaga.
But soon afterwards came the controversial penalty.
Bournemouth captain Cook did let Gakpo get the wrong side of him and may have knocked him off balance but if anything, the Dutchman seemed to trip himself.
VAR did not see enough to recommend that England should think again and from the spot Salah stroked home his 20th Premier League goal of the season.
Bournemouth thought they had an equaliser when David Brooks tucked the ball home after Milos Kerkez’s cross was deflected.
But VAR confirmed the on-field decision that Kerkez had been offside.
Alexander-Arnold sent a free header straight at Kepa and Szoboszlai miscued a shot but the Cherries could still feel a bit hard done by to be behind at the break.
The home team began the second half as they had the first. Both Dango Ouattara and Kluivert went for Brooks’ cross and the Burkina Faso striker got the last touch, heading wide.
Seconds later, Kluivert’s goalbound volley from a Semenyo centre was blocked by Ibrahima Konate.
And there were not 50 minutes on the clock when an intricate exchange of passes released Semenyo, only for Alisson to block the shot.
Liverpool were rattled. Ryan Gravenberch and midfield partner Alexis Mac Allister were booked in quick succession for halting Kerkez and Ouattara on the break, respectively.
The Reds were grateful when they could finally relieve the pressure, but Mac Allister and Salah sent shots wide.
England continued to antagonise the home fans with his decisions, prompting chants of “You’re not fit to referee” and “Who’s the Scouser in the blue?”
Booking Virgil van Dijk for a robust challenge on Ouattara did not put the referee in their good books.
Bournemouth finally seemed to have got what they deserved when substitute Tavernier’s shot came back off the inside of the post and the ball fell to the onrushing Kluivert.
But the Cherries’ top scorer could only skew his shot over the bar.
Was that the home team’s best chance gone?
It was.
Liverpool broke from the edge of their own box and Curtis Jones fed Salah.
The Egyptian King used Kerkez as a screen and curled a delicious shot into the far top corner.
Things still were not comfortable for the league leaders. Semenyo had yet another shot and put it just wide.
Alisson made a fine stop to stop the ball deflecting in off two defenders.
And Liverpool escaped with a precious, precious three points.
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.
