Stoppage-time defeat: Liverpool’s 13-game unbeaten run ends at Bournemouth, Top 4 spot in jeopardy

Travelling to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, Liverpool made several changes to their starting lineup. Cody Gakpo partnered Mohamed Salah in attack, while Joe Gomez continued in defence in place of Ibrahima Konaté. However, the visitors got off to a poor start.

In the 26th minute, Bournemouth took the lead after Marcos Senesi played a through ball to Alex Scott. Virgil van Dijk failed to clear the danger, allowing Scott to square the ball for Evanilson to score the opening goal. Just seven minutes later, Álex Jiménez doubled the hosts’ advantage, finishing after another through ball, this time from James Hill.

Liverpool pushed forward in search of a response and were rewarded just before half-time, as Van Dijk headed home to reduce the deficit to 2-1. After the break, the visitors continued to apply pressure but struggled to find an equaliser. That changed in the 80th minute, when Dominik Szoboszlai scored from a free kick to make it 2-2.

As the match appeared to be heading for a draw, Bournemouth struck in stoppage time. Following a throw-in from Hill, chaos ensued inside the Liverpool penalty area as the visitors attempted to clear the ball. Amine Adli reacted quickest to fire home the winning goal for the hosts.

After the match, Van Dijk admitted the defeat was difficult to accept. “Last minute of the game, very tough to take,” he said. “But like you said, we worked very hard - in the second half especially - to get back in the game. Obviously at times we were open as well because we were trying to push for the winner. But to concede that late is very disappointing.”

The Liverpool captain also addressed the opening goal. “Well the first goal, I think it was a difficult ball to judge during the circumstances - the wind was very tricky. I think you saw it especially when we played long balls on their side, it was very difficult to judge.

“So to concede that one, it's not an issue... because I think we controlled the game quite well before that. And then obviously when we were with 10 men, you can argue that you have to maybe kick the ball out or not. But to concede those two goals in a short period is obviously not good at all.”

Following the result, Liverpool are at risk of losing fourth place, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle all still to play, and a win for any of them could see the Reds drop down the table. The defeat also ended Liverpool’s 13-game unbeaten run, as they are still without a Premier League win in 2026.

Liverpool will face Qarabag on Wednesday, 29 January, before taking on Newcastle three days later, on 1 February (GMT+7).