Bournemouth secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium, ending the Reds' 13-game unbeaten run with Amine Adli's 95th-minute strike. Liverpool fought back from a two-goal deficit but were undone by defensive lapses and a controversial late goal. The result leaves Arne Slot's side winless in five Premier League matches, heightening pressure in the top-four race.
Match Overview
Bournemouth took command early in their Premier League clash against Liverpool on January 24, 2026, at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries scored twice in seven first-half minutes: Evanilson opened the scoring in the 26th minute after Virgil van Dijk failed to deal with a long ball from Marcos Senesi, allowing Alex Scott to pull back for the finish. Joe Gomez collided with Alisson Becker while trying to block the shot, leaving Liverpool with 10 men for seven minutes as they awaited a substitution.
During this period, Alex Jimenez made it 2-0, latching onto James Hill's throughball after being played onside by van Dijk. Liverpool pulled one back just before halftime when van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai's corner at the near post.
Second-Half Drama
The Reds leveled in the 81st minute through Szoboszlai's excellent free-kick, curling around the wall after Mohamed Salah backheeled the ball into his path. Bournemouth responded strongly, with Ryan Christie forcing a save from Alisson and Evanilson missing a close-range chance.
The decisive moment came in the 95th minute from James Hill's long throw, sparking chaos in the Liverpool box. Adli stabbed home at the second attempt after Alisson initially denied him, sealing the win despite van Dijk's protests of being blocked—replays showed he was tripped by Curtis Jones.
Post-Match Reactions
Van Dijk told Sky Sports: "What I felt on that pitch is that I was blocked, but the referee and VAR didn’t give it. I can stand here and say it shouldn’t have been given, but it was, so it is what it is." He took responsibility for the early goals, citing tricky wind conditions.
Arne Slot lamented the added time, saying four minutes was insufficient given substitutions and VAR checks. He also updated on injuries: Gomez suffered a bone-on-bone knock to his knee, while Alisson had swelling. "We have to look at ourselves," Slot added.
Pundits criticized Liverpool's handling of Gomez's substitution as "amateurish," with Jamie Redknapp calling it staggering that it took seven minutes.
Implications
The defeat means Liverpool could drop to eighth if rivals win on Sunday, trailing leaders Arsenal by 14 points. Bournemouth moved 10 points clear of relegation, boosting Andoni Iraola's side.
