 |
| Image: ESPN |
Christian Benteke (26')
Monday 17 August 2015
8:00pm BST Kick-off
Anfield, Liverpool, England.
Referee: Craig Pawson
Liverpool held off an intransigent Bournemouth display at Anfield on Monday night as the Reds simply had too much firepower in the end, triumphing 1-0 over the Premier League newcomers.
£32.5 million recruitment Christian Benteke justified his hefty fee that made Liverpool secure the services of the Belgian, as his controversial goal made the difference on the night, after Bournemouth harshly had a Tommy Elphick header disallowed early on.
Brendan Rodgers' Reds got off to a perfect start courtesy of a late 1-0 victory over Stoke City in Week 1. The Cherries were to represent an entirely different challenge and it was an unchanged line-up Brendan Rodgers selected against Bournemouth.
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Milner, Henderson, Can (52), Lallana, Ibe, Firmino (70), Coutinho, Moreno (81), Benteke.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe slightly altered his side after last week's Week 1 defeat to Aston Villa for the kind of occasion Howe will encourage his players to relish during their debut Premier League campaign.
Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, O'Kane, Surman, Gradel, Smith (81'), King, Tomlin (61'), Wilson.
£32.5 million recruitment Christian Benteke justified his hefty fee that made Liverpool secure the services of the Belgian, as his controversial goal made the difference on the night, after Bournemouth harshly had a Tommy Elphick header disallowed early on.
Brendan Rodgers' Reds got off to a perfect start courtesy of a late 1-0 victory over Stoke City in Week 1. The Cherries were to represent an entirely different challenge and it was an unchanged line-up Brendan Rodgers selected against Bournemouth.
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Milner, Henderson, Can (52), Lallana, Ibe, Firmino (70), Coutinho, Moreno (81), Benteke.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe slightly altered his side after last week's Week 1 defeat to Aston Villa for the kind of occasion Howe will encourage his players to relish during their debut Premier League campaign.
Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, O'Kane, Surman, Gradel, Smith (81'), King, Tomlin (61'), Wilson.
 |
| Image: PremierLeague.com |
On a beautiful summer evening in northwest England—the Anfield faithful bristled with anticipation under lights for what promised to be a galvanic home opener. There's always something extra special about Anfield for the first home game of the season, and the electric vocal timbre reflected that.
Cherries full-back Charlie Daniels surged forward early on the left as his cross deflected out for a corner. Bournemouth cautiously held the ball for a prolonged period but it eventually foundered.
Then, it was controversy that followed. The subsequent corner from the visitors was whipped in by designated corner taker Matt Ritchie, Mignolet flapped, and it was headed in by Elphick. But the Bournemouth man was whistled for a foul on Liverpool defender Lovren, and on first glance, it looked very harsh.
Although, the headed goal was unfairly disallowed, Bournemouth continued to dominate the Reds. The Cherries pegged Liverpool back into their own area at Anfield, and currently looked like the established Premier League side playing at home, not Liverpool.
Another chance appeared for Bournemouth, after the ball skipped past Skrtel and it appeared momentarily that striker Wilson would have a chance for Bournemouth. Instead, it went out for a goal-kick. Then, after the visitors had dominated play inside the first 25 minutes, it was the hosts who found the breakthrough.
Skipper Jordan Henderson exchanged passes with full-back Nathaniel Clyne on the corner. After receiving the return ball, Henderson bounced a neatly-placed cross to the back post. Fresh off his sensational winner at Stoke City last week, Phillipe Coutinho uncharacteristically perched offside, and tried to make a play on the ball. He missed, but Christian Benteke—who was onside—poked in from close range.
Liverpool began to look really dangerous after the goal, as a flurry of scoring opportunities appeared. The Reds worked a free-kick from the left to Henderson, whose thunderbolt just landed on the top of the crossbar. Tricky playmaker Adam Lallana creatively swung in a corner from the left for Liverpool, as it was latched onto by defender Dejan Lovren, but his effort went a whisker wide of Arthur Boruc's goal. A deflected pass bounced kindly for Coutinho just before the interval, who curled his shot wide of the post. Clearly disappointed, the Brazilian pounded his fist into the ground in frustration.
Bournemouth began the first half brightly and appeared to take the lead momentarily from a corner, only for the goal to be ruled out. Liverpool then went ahead through £32.5 million man Christian Benteke, though it appears the goal shouldn't have counted. Ironic, isn't it?
Phillipe Coutinho accelerated through midfield after the break but uncharacteristically sent his deflected shot wide of the post. Another chance appeared for the home side, as Jordan Ibe crossed for Milner, after Christian Benteke had dispossessed full-back Simon Francis deep on the left, but Milner scuffed his first-time shot wide of the post.
Just before Liverpool's two opportunities, skipper Jordan Henderson departed proceedings, courtesy of an apparent injury. German Emre Can replaced the 25-year-old.
Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie had begun the second period luminously and had chances to show for it. First, Joe Gomez couldn't clear the box for Liverpool, giving Ritchie a chance to cross. Mignolet punched clear to avert the danger. Then, the Scottish international latched onto a loose ball on the right and smashed a shot off the near post. Third time lucky perhaps?
Eddie Howe introduced Lee Tomlin after the hour-mark, hoping for some more guile in possession. Another good Cherries sequence followed, as Wilson slotted a pass through to midfielder O'Kane, who shot wide from a tight angle on the right. The Reds were living dangerously in this one.
Christian Benteke raced free on the left before passing across the edge of the box to Coutinho. The receiver popped the ball up to set himself for a volley, but Daniels blocked brilliantly for Bournemouth. Roberto Firmino was introduced for Liverpool subsequently.
A corner for Bournemouth saw Cook intelligently flick the ball toward the back post. No teammates on hand, however, and the chance passed. The second substitution for Bournemouth followed as Adam Smith replaced Gradel, who was really never a threat all night. Meanwhile, Alberto Moreno replaced Phillipe Coutinho for Liverpool on the 80-minute mark.
Bournemouth searched for an equalizer but no clear-cut chances appeared. Francis sent a looping header over the bar from a corner, while Tomlin directed a looping header on target, but it was no trouble for goalkeeper Mignolet. At the other end, the attacking-orientated Clyne fired off target from the edge of the penalty box.
Then, another great chance for Liverpool appeared, as Benteke cracked the bar with a first-time strike on the half-volley. Then Lallana blasted the rebound over the bar. It summed up the Englishman's night, really.
Alberto Moreno powered forward down the left, then skipped past three Bournemouth defenders, consequently drawing a requisite foul from Cook. He went into the book, but Liverpool couldn't take advantage of the dangerous position which Moreno had been fouled initially, as the free-kick was tapped short to Milner, who spun and fired off target.
As stoppage time dwindled down, Bournemouth's sequences grew more and more rudderless, not even coming close to generating any half-chance at all. Referee Craig Pawson eventually blew the full-time whistle, as the Reds maintained their 100% record to the 2015/16 campaign.
It wasn't the best performance you'll ever see from Brendan Rodgers' dynamic side, and Bournemouth will feel aggrieved over two key referee decisions in the first half. But Liverpool have the three points and, that's all that matters at the end of the day.
Cherries full-back Charlie Daniels surged forward early on the left as his cross deflected out for a corner. Bournemouth cautiously held the ball for a prolonged period but it eventually foundered.
Then, it was controversy that followed. The subsequent corner from the visitors was whipped in by designated corner taker Matt Ritchie, Mignolet flapped, and it was headed in by Elphick. But the Bournemouth man was whistled for a foul on Liverpool defender Lovren, and on first glance, it looked very harsh.
Although, the headed goal was unfairly disallowed, Bournemouth continued to dominate the Reds. The Cherries pegged Liverpool back into their own area at Anfield, and currently looked like the established Premier League side playing at home, not Liverpool.
 |
| Image: PremierLeague.com |
Skipper Jordan Henderson exchanged passes with full-back Nathaniel Clyne on the corner. After receiving the return ball, Henderson bounced a neatly-placed cross to the back post. Fresh off his sensational winner at Stoke City last week, Phillipe Coutinho uncharacteristically perched offside, and tried to make a play on the ball. He missed, but Christian Benteke—who was onside—poked in from close range.
 |
| Image: Telegraph |
Bournemouth began the first half brightly and appeared to take the lead momentarily from a corner, only for the goal to be ruled out. Liverpool then went ahead through £32.5 million man Christian Benteke, though it appears the goal shouldn't have counted. Ironic, isn't it?
Phillipe Coutinho accelerated through midfield after the break but uncharacteristically sent his deflected shot wide of the post. Another chance appeared for the home side, as Jordan Ibe crossed for Milner, after Christian Benteke had dispossessed full-back Simon Francis deep on the left, but Milner scuffed his first-time shot wide of the post.
 |
| Image: PremierLeague.com |
Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie had begun the second period luminously and had chances to show for it. First, Joe Gomez couldn't clear the box for Liverpool, giving Ritchie a chance to cross. Mignolet punched clear to avert the danger. Then, the Scottish international latched onto a loose ball on the right and smashed a shot off the near post. Third time lucky perhaps?
Eddie Howe introduced Lee Tomlin after the hour-mark, hoping for some more guile in possession. Another good Cherries sequence followed, as Wilson slotted a pass through to midfielder O'Kane, who shot wide from a tight angle on the right. The Reds were living dangerously in this one.
Christian Benteke raced free on the left before passing across the edge of the box to Coutinho. The receiver popped the ball up to set himself for a volley, but Daniels blocked brilliantly for Bournemouth. Roberto Firmino was introduced for Liverpool subsequently.
 |
| Image: The FA |
Bournemouth searched for an equalizer but no clear-cut chances appeared. Francis sent a looping header over the bar from a corner, while Tomlin directed a looping header on target, but it was no trouble for goalkeeper Mignolet. At the other end, the attacking-orientated Clyne fired off target from the edge of the penalty box.
Then, another great chance for Liverpool appeared, as Benteke cracked the bar with a first-time strike on the half-volley. Then Lallana blasted the rebound over the bar. It summed up the Englishman's night, really.
 |
| Image: PremierLeague.com |
As stoppage time dwindled down, Bournemouth's sequences grew more and more rudderless, not even coming close to generating any half-chance at all. Referee Craig Pawson eventually blew the full-time whistle, as the Reds maintained their 100% record to the 2015/16 campaign.
It wasn't the best performance you'll ever see from Brendan Rodgers' dynamic side, and Bournemouth will feel aggrieved over two key referee decisions in the first half. But Liverpool have the three points and, that's all that matters at the end of the day.
 |
| Image: Getty Images |
COMMENTS