Player Ratings – Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool: Salah’s brace secures victory as Reds extend Premier League lead to nine points…

Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool: Salah’s brace secures victory as Reds extend Premier League lead to nine points.

Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium was highlighted by Mohamed Salah’s two goals, reinforcing their position at the top of the Premier League.

Despite Bournemouth’s recent strong performances against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, they struggled to challenge Liverpool, who are now on the path to potentially clinching their second Premier League title in six years.

However, the match was marred by an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who exited the game in the second half after an unchallenged pull.

Conor Bradley stepped in effectively, but concerns linger for Slot regarding the fitness of his key right-back as February approaches.

For the first time in months, Liverpool fielded a fully fit squad, leading to the difficult decision to leave Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez out of the matchday squad.

Overall, it was a successful outing for the Reds, though Alexander-Arnold’s injury casts a shadow over the victory.

Liverpool player ratings vs Bournemouth: Mohamed Salah shines as the Egyptian King delivers with precision, while Alisson proves his status as the world’s best goalkeeper.

Salah’s penalty and a stunning second goal propelled Liverpool to a 2-0 victory, solidifying their nine-point lead in the Premier League standings.

The hosts dominated a fiercely contested first half, with Antoine Semenyo forcing a significant save from Alisson before striking a powerful shot against the post. However, it was Liverpool who broke the deadlock in the 30th minute under contentious circumstances.

Chasing down a long ball from Andrew Robertson, the energetic Cody Gakpo fell as he entered the penalty area. VAR chose not to intervene after referee Darren England determined that Gakpo had been clipped by Lewis Cook. Mohamed Salah stepped up confidently and converted the penalty, leaving Kepa Arrizabalaga with no chance.

Shortly after, Alisson was called into action again as he watched David Brooks’ well-placed shot sail past him. This time, VAR intervened, correctly disallowing the goal due to Milos Kerkez being in an offside position.

The Brazilian goalkeeper showcased his skills shortly after the break, denying Semenyo from close range. Bournemouth then squandered a golden opportunity when the in-form Justin Kluivert failed to convert after Marcus Tavernier’s shot hit the post.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Alisson (9/10):

Exceptional performance today. Made several crucial saves throughout the match to maintain his clean sheet. The outcome could have been different without his presence.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (5/10):

Struggled significantly against the threatening Semenyo and appeared to sustain a muscle injury that curtailed his participation.

Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

Delivered another strong performance alongside Van Dijk, making a vital block to prevent Justin Kluivert’s volley from testing Alisson in the second half.

Virgil van Dijk (7/10):

Displayed his usual commanding presence, remaining composed and unflustered despite the hosts posing a considerable threat during their attacks.

Andrew Robertson (7/10):

Showed glimpses of his former self with a precise long pass that set up Gakpo for the penalty incident. Faced a tougher challenge in the second half against Tavernier but will be satisfied with the victory and clean sheet.

Midfield

Ryan Gravenberch (7/10):

Displayed a composed demeanor in midfield, reminiscent of a young Zinedine Zidane with a stunning pirouette.

Dominik Szoboszlai (6/10):

Pushed forward to support the attack but failed to convert several key chances. He contributed defensively, helping Liverpool secure the win.

Alexis Mac Allister (5/10):

Came close to receiving a second yellow card after a challenge on Brooks while attempting a volley. Substituted shortly after as Slot recognized the risk.

Attack

Mohamed Salah (9/10):

Confidently converted a penalty for his 20th Premier League goal this season. After a quiet second half, he received the ball in the box and skillfully curled it into the far corner for the second goal. Unstoppable.

Luis Diaz (7/10):

Starting in a central role, the Colombian frequently dropped back to facilitate Liverpool’s forward movement and worked diligently to regain possession.

Cody Gakpo (7/10):

Looked the most promising in the first half and somewhat fortuitously earned a penalty. His influence waned in the second half, leading to his substitution with 20 minutes remaining.

Subs & Manager

Curtis Jones (7/10):

Came on for Mac Allister in the 60th minute and provided an assist for Salah’s brilliant second goal.

Conor Bradley (6/10):

Substituted in for the injured Alexander-Arnold with 20 minutes to go and managed to handle Semenyo effectively.

Darwin Nunez (6/10):

Entered the match for Gakpo in the 70th minute but had limited impact on the game.

Wataru Endo (N/A):

Came on in the final minutes to help maintain the lead.

Arne Slot (8/10):

Achieved a significant victory. Successfully reintegrated key players after resting them against PSV, which proved crucial as Salah made the difference against a Bournemouth team in excellent form leading up to the match.