Liverpool vs. Bournemouth: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Christian Benteke opened his Liverpool scoring account as the Reds maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on Monday night at Anfield.
Benteke struck controversially in the 26th minute to give Liverpool a second straight one-goal win to start the campaign. Bournemouth, who had a goal ruled out earlier in the half, will feel aggrieved that referee Craig Pawson allowed Benteke's goal to stand after an offside Philippe Coutinho interfered with the play.
The result left the two clubs at opposite ends of the table. Liverpool failed to fully impress on the night but are level with leaders Manchester City on six points after back-to-back wins. Bournemouth created several spells of pressure but failed to score in a second straight loss.
B/R selects winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Christian Benteke
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Christian Benteke starred in his home debut, scoring the only goal and turning in a strong overall performance for Liverpool at Anfield.
The big Belgian put himself in the right place at the right time to prod home Jordan Henderson's cross from close range. But the goal represented only a small part of his contribution. The former Aston Villa man's hold-up and link-up play were excellent, and he showed off a number of good touches on the ball.
In addition, he created four chances and won nine aerial duels, per Squawka. (For what it's worth, WhoScored.com recorded 10 aerial duels won.)
"Christian Benteke gives us other options," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport). "His hold-up play was excellent. When the ball comes into the box, he is a real threat and handful. He deserved his goal."
Perhaps most importantly, he's off the mark quickly for Liverpool. As Richard Jolly noted at ESPN FC:
"As a rule of thumb, the Liverpool's striking signings of recent years who have scored an early goal have prospered while those who have not did not.
Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Fernando Torres were all quick to get off the mark; Fabio Borini, Mario Balotelli, Iago Aspas and Andy Carroll endured an inauspicious wait.
"
Suarez, Sturridge and Torres all succeeded in red, while the rest—Jolly later mentioned Peter Crouch as well—struggled to varying degrees. Having joined Liverpool for £32.5 million, Benteke inevitably will feel pressure to perform.
Monday's goal—regardless of whether it should have stood—meant some of that pressure is off, at least for now.
Loser: Referee Craig Pawson
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Under the Premier League's new interpretation of the offside rule this season, Christian Benteke's goal should not have counted.
Benteke was onside at the time Jordan Henderson sent in a cross from the left flank, but Philippe Coutinho was offside. Coutinho did not touch the ball, but he clearly tried to do so. Thus, he interfered with the play and should have been ruled offside, but the assistant referee did not raise his flag, and referee Craig Pawson allowed the goal to stand.
This represents a subtle change from years past, when Coutinho would not have been offside. But while the rule can be confusing at times, this was probably the clearest opportunity a referee will have to enforce the new interpretation.
"From a goalkeepers point of view; moving either towards or away from the ball. any player within the width of the goal is affecting play," tweeted Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel.
Bournemouth were unhappy, as you'd expect at full time.
"We have been briefed all summer about the offside rule," defender Tommy Elphick told Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport). "I was in the left-back position and could see across the line, so it is really frustrating. Coutinho was past our line and tried to get the ball."
That wasn't the only frustration for Bournemouth and Elphick, who had a goal disallowed early in the first half. On that occasion, Pawson ruled that Elphick had fouled Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren. Replays suggested the decision was harsh.
"I didn't say a lot to the officials," manager Eddie Howe told BBC Sport. "They have a hard job, but I will speak to them privately. I want feedback on the decisions."
Howe is correct to say that officials have a difficult job, but it's hard not to feel for Bournemouth after both of the game's most important refereeing decisions went against the newly promoted side.
Winner: Liverpool
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Liverpool won the game, but Brendan Rodgers' men hardly impressed in doing so. Bournemouth started as the better side and had a goal harshly disallowed early in the first half. The hosts improved and took the lead during their best spell of the match, but in the second half, the visitors controlled the game once again.
While Rodgers will be concerned with parts of his team's performance, he must be pleased to have six points in the bank after two matches. Encouragingly, Liverpool have not yet conceded a goal this Premier League season.
That record could be in for a stiff test next time out, as the Reds travel to London to face Arsenal. The Gunners stumbled in their season opener, losing at home to West Ham United. But Arsene Wenger's side created loads of chances over the weekend in a win at Crystal Palace—though they also failed to convert most of them.
The quality of attackers at Arsenal is, quite obviously, greater than that at Bournemouth. Liverpool will have to play well defensively to keep the Gunners out and maintain their strong start to the season.
Loser: Adam Lallana
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Adam Lallana completed the full 90 minutes for Liverpool but was often anonymous in a central-attacking-midfield role.
At least, that was his starting position. As Squawka tweeted during the first half, Lallana was "everywhere and nowhere" all at once.
With Emre Can playing well as a substitute and Roberto Firmino approaching full fitness, Lallana might soon find himself on the bench.
Winner and Loser: Bournemouth
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Bournemouth can take some positives from Monday's performance, but in the final analysis, the newcomers must do more if they are to remain in the Premier League.
From the first whistle, Eddie Howe's side created danger with speedy attacks and feisty forays into Liverpool's half. The Cherries pinned their hosts into their own half for most of the first 20 minutes and were unlucky to have a goal ruled out.
Many a neutral will agree that this is a side worth watching, but as B/R's Matt Jones tweeted, Bournemouth must find a cutting edge or risk dropping straight back into the Championship.
Stats don't always tell the whole story, but this one from WhoScored was illuminating: When Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho left the match in the 81st minute, he had taken the same number of shots (eight) as Bournemouth's entire team.
For all the entertainment value they bring to a match, the Cherries are one of only two teams—West Bromwich Albion are the other—that still haven't scored a Premier League goal this season.
Bournemouth might have been unlucky on the night, but Howe and Co. will have to make their own luck if they are to survive in the top flight.
Loser: Liverpool's Late Set Piece
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Spare a thought for Liverpool's players as they work on set pieces this week at the training ground.
In the closing moments of Monday's match, the Reds attempted a gimmicky free kick that ended hilariously. Near the edge of the box, Emre Can made a short pass to James Milner, who stopped the ball as if to tee up Christian Benteke. Instead, however, Milner spun and blasted a shot way off target.
No big deal, of course. Liverpool won the match, and the set piece meant nothing. In the end, it was little more than a light moment for neutrals to enjoy. Via Twitter, BBC Sport's Phil McNulty called it an "early contender for [the] worst set piece of the season."
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