Answering the Age-Old Question: Reds Triumph at Bournemouth
Classic Tale of Two Halves
That famous old question got answered by the Reds, didn’t it? Could they do it on a cold and wet Wednesday at Bournemouth? It was a classic tale of two halves, and yet all that really mattered was that, with a number of changes again, Liverpool are in the hat for the quarter-finals. It’ll be remembered for only one insane moment of magic, but there was a lot to like (mainly in the first half) for Jürgen Klopp, whose strong team selection paid dividends overall. We look at the lessons learned from another victory at the Vitality Stadium where the red machine rolls on and on.
The Nunez Phenomenon
Nunez! Nunez! Nunez! Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
A Darwin Nunez winner away from home in a 2-1 victory, although without the ten men this time. He only came on as a 60th-minute substitute for Harvey Elliott, but everyone will rightly be talking about the Uruguayan forward’s wonder strike. The first touch from Trent’s pass went under his foot, and Bournemouth fans enjoyed a few jeers at his expense. Little did they know that about ten seconds later, he’d cut inside and bend a strike near the top corner past Radu. His name was chanted on his arrival into the match, after the strike, and quite rightly at full time by the travelling Kop. He’s unreal at the moment.
Quansah’s Defensive Mastery
Quansah Quality Shines Whatever anyone’s concerns about Liverpool’s lack of defensive recruits in the summer, if Jarrell Quansah had cost serious money in the summer, we’d all think it was well spent. The 20-year-old looks calm and composed on the ball, even in those howling conditions on the south coast. His stats on the night matched up with the eye test as the Warrington-born youngster made seven clearances, two interceptions, and made the most passes with 86. He’s completed the most passes on the pitch in his last three games and made a few key blocks and clearances from right under his own bar in this one. Man of the match for me here.
Continued Positives for Liverpool
The Positives Continue It was a brave and strong selection by Jürgen Klopp, but it’s another win and the positives continue. Aside from Nunez’s strike and Quansah’s performance, Harvey Elliott enjoyed potentially his best starting performance for us this season and understandably showed his frustration on the bench when taken off. Curtis Jones looked controlled in the first half and linked the play well, while Joe Gomez impressed and a Cody Gakpo strike keeps all the forwards in form. It wasn’t the best at the start of the second half, and Bournemouth deserved their leveller when it came, but this team knows how to win. Even a cancelled flight can’t derail them.
