It’s likely Bournemouth weren’t keen on a return to Anfield after getting thrashed 9-0 there last season.
Andoni Iraola made one change to the side that drew their season opener against West Ham, with Antoine Semenyo replacing David Brooks. Bournemouth lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape.
Jürgen Klopp stuck with the same team that drew the opening match against Chelsea. Liverpool set up in their usual 4-3-3 formation.
Bournemouth made a positive start, taking the lead just three minutes in. With Trent Alexander-Arnold tucking inside, Jaidon Anthony would follow him into the middle too, with Philip Billing picking up Alexis Mac Allister. This made it hard for Liverpool to play out through the midfield, and a heavy touch by Alexander-Arnold was pounced upon by Billing, enabling Bournemouth to get at goal. Andy Robertson’s attempt to clear the ball ricocheted back off of Dominic Solanke for Semenyo to finish.
It highlighted some of the question marks around Alexander-Arnold’s new role: how good is he at receiving the ball with his back to play? On the flank, he usually receives the ball on the half-turn, giving him greater awareness of what’s going on ahead of him, and enabling him to play forward quicker. In this new midfield role, these things become harder.
Although Bournemouth made it difficult for Liverpool to play through the centre, Anthony tucking inside with Alexander-Arnold left plenty of space on the right for Ibrahima Konaté to receive the ball and play out.
Nevertheless, Alexander-Arnold wasn’t the only one having problems receiving the ball with his back to goal, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah all losing the ball sloppily, giving Bournemouth the chance to counter-attack.
After about twenty minutes, Liverpool made adjustments. Alexander-Arnold returned to his normal wide position in the build-up, with Szoboszlai moving inside.
A few minutes later, Liverpool equalised. Anthony and Joe Rothwell were pulled forward to press Konaté and Szoboszlai respectively, leaving Alexander-Arnold in space on the right. Milos Kerkez stepped out to meet him, leaving Bournemouth three-against-three against Liverpool’s attackers in defence, but couldn’t get near him before he passed inside to Diogo Jota. Marcos Senesi nearly managed to cut out Jota’s pass to Diaz, seeing it bobble in the box, yet the Colombian flicked it up into the air and finished inside the near post with an overhead kick.
They then took the lead, with Salah scoring the rebound after his penalty was saved. Anthony was again drawn forward to press Konaté, leaving space for Alexander-Arnold to receive the ball, and the Scouser knocked the ball in behind before Kerkez could get out to him, with Szoboszlai making a run into the gap the left-back had left. Rothwell scrambled back to cover, but tripped the Hungarian to give away a penalty.
Now with the lead, Liverpool looked much more comfortable simply holding onto the ball, keeping possession and making Bournemouth chase them.
Alexis Mac Allister was harshly sent off a third of the way through the second half for a high foot, but just minutes later Liverpool secured their win with a third goal. Following a free-kick, Szoboszlai shot from distance, which Neto spilled at the feet of Jota to finish.
Liverpool easily held out, bringing on Wataru Endo for his debut and defending in a 4-4-1.
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