Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool: Nunez stunner fires Reds into last 8

Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool: Nunez stunner fires Reds into last 8

Liverpool have progressed to the League Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win in tricky conditions at Bournemouth, with Darwin Nunez‘s stunner sealing the result.

Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool

League Cup Fourth Round, Vitality Stadium
November 1, 2023

Goals

Gakpo 30′
Kluivert 64′
Nunez 70′ (assist: Alexander-Arnold)

Three days after their latest league victory, Jurgen Klopp named a strong side in pursuit of making the final eight of the League Cup for the fifth time under his supervision.

Even though Liverpool made eight changes to their lineup, only Kostas Tsimikas, David Szoboszlai, and Mohamed Salah remained from Sunday. This showed the depth of the Liverpool team.

In another indication of the No. 8’s adaptability, the No. 11—who made his debut as captain—played through the middle in attack, with Szoboszlai on his right.

The rain was falling sideways and the weather was windy, so the football game was not particularly exciting, but the Reds capitalized on the ball pinballing in the six-yard box throughout the first half.

After making his XI comeback from a knee injury, Cody Gakpo scored after being the first to respond to two deflections from a Liverpool corner.

While Bournemouth was given some momentum with space left across the Reds’ backline, the Cherries managed just 102 accurate passes in the first 45 minutes, despite Szoboszlai’s steady threat of slanted runs.

Liverpool 1–Bournemouth at halftime

For the first time, Salah captains the Reds.

Nunez and Gakpo on the scorecard

The Reds advance to the mid-December League Cup quarterfinal.

In the second half, the wind caused the Reds to halt their play, as any high ball sent out from the back was held aloft and exposed to Bournemouth pressure.

The Cherries took advantage of the situation by forcing Joe Gomez to head the ball off the line, but Justin Kluivert’s header into the net for a 1-1 score proved too much for the Reds to save.

One thoughtless error after another by Liverpool gave the hosts the upper hand, but as everyone knows, all it takes is one magical moment to change the tide, and who better to provide it than Nicolas!

Nine minutes after Trent Alexander-Arnold went into midfield and the Uruguayan was brought on, the latter cut onto his right foot and curled the ball magnificently under the crossbar.

With 20 minutes remaining, Nunez’s sixth goal of the year gave Liverpool a lead once more, forcing both teams to make substitutions as the Cherries took a chance.

Liverpool, however, remained steadfast and won their 12th game of the season overall, securing their spot in the League Cup quarterfinals.

TIA Man of the Match: Jarell Quansah

Referee: John Brooks

Bournemouth: Radu; Smith (Aarons 82′), Mepham, Zabarnyi, Kerkez; Scott (Moore 81′), Billing (Tavernier 61′), Christie; Semenyo (Brooks 74′), Solanke, Kluivert (Traore 74′)

Subs not used: Plain, Senesi, Rothwell, Dango

Liverpool: Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo (Mac Allister 60′), Elliott (Nunez 60′), Jones (Alexander-Arnold 60′); Szoboszlai (Gravenberch 76′), Salah, Gakpo (Jota 81′)