Match Report
A goal from Alexander Isak secured Liverpool a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The Reds took all three points at Vitality Stadium on Sunday as, just ahead of the hour mark, their No.9 struck from inside the area after strong play from Cody Gakpo to deliver down the right set up the finish.
Isak's moment settled the fixture on the south coast as Andoni Iraola oversaw a win against his former side.
Team news
Head coach Iraola made three changes for the trip, with Cody Gakpo, Milos Kerkez and Alexis Mac Allister returning to his starting line-up from last weekend's draw at Fulham.
First half
The game endured a quiet beginning with neither side able to create much in the way of chances in either area.
Dominik Szoboszlai enjoyed the first opening of the game, shooting over the bar from a free-kick won by Florian Wirtz just outside the penalty box.
Bournemouth attempted to assert themselves on the contest as the hosts, though Alisson Becker was on hand to claim several crosses into his box in commanding fashion.
The goalkeeper’s next action was to brilliantly deny a clever flick by Evanilson, which was heading into the bottom corner of the net via a low Marcus Tavernier cross.
Liverpool responded a short while later as Gakpo saw a shot blocked and Wirtz had an attempt fly over the bar from a Bradley Barcola cutback – though the offside flag was eventually raised.
Barcola then had a deflected shot well saved by the legs of goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic as the winger found space inside the box to shoot low through bodies.
Szoboszlai also whistled another free-kick past the post from around 30-yards out in what was the last of the real opening half action.
Second half
The match continued in a similar battling fashion as the first following the change of ends.
Ryan Christie went closest to breaking the deadlock first as he guided a cross from Rayan wide of the mark inside the six-yard box.
The midfielder then dragged another shot wide from outside the box in a spell of pressure, but it was actually Liverpool who got themselves on the scoresheet just ahead of the hour mark.
Gakpo produced an impressive run down the right flank as he beat the challenge of two defenders to drive forward and cross into the area.
His delivery was met by Wirtz under pressure and the ball looped to Isak, who was left all alone inside the box with the striker firing into the back of the net to spark celebrations in the away end.
The forward was then involved again, this time he pulled a low effort past the post with stopper Petrovic rooted to the spot, though the linesman did have his flag raised for offside afterwards.
At the other end, Evanlison broke free to curl a shot at goal, but Alisson was again on hand to deny the effort down to his left side.
Bournemouth continued to apply pressure but were mostly limited to shots from distance or deep crosses into the box that Liverpool’s defence were dealing with staunchly.
Adam Truffert fired another effort over the bar for the home outfit, while midfielder Alex Scott’s free-kick was well wide of the goal from distance.
Substitute Lewis Koumas enjoyed the final chance of the afternoon between the teams, shooting at Petrovic with a curling effort in the last of the action as Liverpool secured the points on the road.
SOURCE: www.liverpoolfc.com
No comments:
Post a Comment