The soulful victory over Bournemouth once again exposed Liverpool's loopholes. The Premier League defending champions cannot continue this fragile if they want to have a successful season.
Victory brings many worries
Liverpool started the 2025/26 season with a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth, but this was a match that made The Kop fans both happy and insecure.
Two goals from Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo helped Anfield's home team to take 2-0, seemingly sure 3 points. However, the fragile defense continues to become a serious problem, allowing Antoine Semenyo to make a double and bring the match back to the starting line in less than 15 minutes of the second half.
Luckily for Liverpool, Federico Chiesa, the player seemed to be forgotten, shone in time. In the 82nd minute, only with the second touch in the season, he hit the assertive volley in the 88th minute to bring Liverpool over.
Mohamed Salah closed the match with a 4-2 score in injury time, and balanced 187 goals in Andy Cole's Premier League, only 21 more than Wayne Rooney.
However, this victory could not hide the fact that Liverpool was still vulnerable to the speed counterattack, a weakness that lasted from the pre -season period.
In 6 friendly matches, Arne Slot's team only kept clean sheets once, and in the Community Shield match against Crystal Palace, these holes were fully exploited. Bournemouth, with a speed -rich attack, has proven that those problems have not been solved.
The loopholes, changing wings also cannot save
While led 2-0, Slot suddenly withdrew both the new border defender Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez rest, bringing Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo on the pitch. It was a decision to increase the defense, but finally became a turning point for Bournemouth.
The loss of speed and ability to approach Frimpong and Kerkez made Liverpool's two boundaries more exploited, especially the right wing, where Endo was just a temporary defensive midfielder backwards.
Semenyo's first goals came from a situation of loss of the ball in the middle of the Dominik Szoboszlai yard, opening the space for David Brooks to escape and stretch. No one included Semenyo, and he easily defeated Alisson.
The second goal is even more worrisome: Salah passed the edge of the opponent's penalty area, Bournemouth immediately countered four two. Konate and Van Dijk only retreated, not close, so Semenyo freely led the ball from the yard, cut into the middle and successfully finished.
Konate's performance is a separate problem. The French center -back repeatedly stood in the wrong position, slowly reflected against speed breakthroughs. This is not only a personal error, but also shows Liverpool's defensive system lacking support from the middle line. When the squad rises, just a phase lost the ball, Liverpool immediately fell into a counterattack with the smaller troops.
The middle line is loose when Gravenberch has not returned
The bigger anxiety is the fragile in the middle of the yard. Ryan Gravenberch has not recovered, and alternatives do not guarantee remote interception ability. When Bournemouth organized a counterattack, the gap between midfield and Liverpool defense was often clearly revealed.
In the first half, Bournemouth, although inferior to the ball control time, still has a few dangerous balls by exploiting this space. In the minutes of Semenyo, it is easy to see no Liverpool midfielder fast enough to cover or make a tactical tactical mistake. That makes Van Dijk and Konate constantly face the opponent's spearhead without the necessary support.
The return of Mac Allister somewhat helped Liverpool control the ball better, but when he left the field, the game immediately imbalance. Wataru Endo and Szoboszlai have a tendency to attack or distribute the ball, not strong enough in the active defense.
If Gravenberch is not re -exported soon, coach Arne Slot will have to find another solution, may be adjusting the central midfielder, or reducing the rise of the defense to limit counterattack.
In short, Liverpool won, but was winning the worry. The defense is still open, Konaté is declined, the two wings are prone to exploitation, the middle line lacks the defense from afar.
Bournemouth is not the strongest opponent in the Premier League, but it is enough to cause a match that The Kop has to rely on the shine of a “forgotten person” to win. Without early overcome, Liverpool is difficult to maintain the championship race in the context of the increasingly complete competitors.
Chiesa, Super Reserve and Volley Life
In the 82nd minute, Federico Chiesa only takes 6 minutes to imprint. Taking advantage of the messy ball in the Bournemouth penalty area, he hit the volley with his right foot, put the ball straight into the far corner. This goal not only helps Liverpool from a disappointing draw, but also lit hope for Chiesa's own career at Anfield. From being considered a “redundant” and for sale, he suddenly became a hero on the opening day of the season.
