Salah misses penalty as Bournemouth claim key win over Liverpool

Ben Sully

Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah reacts after missing his penalty kickAFP

Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty miss ensured Philip Billing’s 28th-minute strike was enough for AFC Bournemouth to claim a narrow 1-0 victory over Liverpool, ending the Cherries’ eight-game winless run in Premier League meetings with the Reds.

Less than seven days after they recorded a remarkable 7-0 victory over their local rivals Manchester United, Liverpool made the trip to the South Coast to face a Bournemouth side who they thumped 9-0 in August.

The lunchtime contest got off to an exciting start as Virgil van Dijk had a goalbound header cleared off the line, before Dango Ouattara spurned a glorious opportunity for the hosts, firing into the side netting after being forced wide by Alisson Becker.

Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (2R) tackles Bournemouth's Burkinabe striker Dango Ouattara (2L)AFP

Cody Gakpo, who was one of three Liverpool players to score a brace last weekend, steered the ball past Neto from Darwin Núñez’s accurate knockdown, but his effort was swiftly chalked off for offside.

The Cherries had failed to score in their previous three home meetings against Jürgen Klopp’s side, but that barren run was brought to an end before the half-hour mark. Ouattara drove towards the byline before cutting the ball back for Billing to guide home his sixth goal of the season.

Bournemouth's Danish midfielder Philip Billing (2R) score the opening goal past Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker (L)AFP

With the Reds unable to muster a response before the break, Klopp summoned Diogo Jota from the bench at HT. The Portugal international was immediately involved, forcing Neto to parry the ball away from danger.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Jota was involved once again when his header towards the goal was handled by Adam Smith, forcing referee John Brooks to point to the spot following a VAR review.

Salah fluffed his lines from the subsequent penalty, blasting the ball woefully wide of the Bournemouth goal.

Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah hits this penalty kick wide of the Bournemouth goalAFP

Liverpool forced their hosts back in the closing stages, but an equalising goal proved elusive as Bournemouth held firm to claim their first home clean sheet of 2023.

The precious win moves the Cherries off the foot of the table and out of the relegation zone, while Liverpool remain in fifth position for the time being.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Dango Ouattara (AFC Bournemouth)