Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth: Effective but Not Exciting
Liverpool edged past Premier League new boys AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on Monday night courtesy of Christian Benteke's controversial first-half goal.
It was a game that had all the makings of a memorable one; Bournemouth's first-ever away game in the Premier League, the first-ever league meeting between these two historic sides and Liverpool's first home game since Brendan Rodgers' team lost 6-1 at Stoke City on the final day of last season.
It wasn't that memorable, with Liverpool producing an effective but far from exciting performance, to grind out a 1-0 win.
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Liverpool fans arrived at Anfield with renewed optimism following some positive transfer business, but there was also a sense of trepidation that an upset may be on the cards—just as it had been 16 years ago when Watford walked away 1-0 victors at their first Premier League match at the famous stadium.
Bournemouth started much the brighter too, piling on pressure, winning four corners inside the first 14 minutes, and leaving Dejan Lovren resembling the nervous wreck Liverpool supporters have become accustomed to.
Thankfully for Liverpool, Lovren improved along with the rest of the team after that nervy opening and grew into the game.
Benteke's goal arrived after 26 minutes, prodding home from close range for his first goal for the club since he became the Reds' second most expensive signing. That will be vital for the Belgian to have secured that opening goal on his Anfield debut.
The goal was marred in controversy, though, thanks to the new offside rules. Philippe Coutinho's attempt to play the ball clearly made him active and therefore offside, but the linesman had a tough job to spot it.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville blamed the authorities: "They c--k about with the offside rule every year and they don’t make it any better," he said, per the Daily Mail.
That missed call, coupled with the decision to disallow Tommy Elphick's header for an alleged foul on Lovren in the early stages, certainly left Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe feeling aggrieved.
Liverpool
For Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, it won't matter how the win arrived, as long as it did. For a second game in a row his team were far from convincing but claimed the three points with a narrow 1-0 victory against opposition who will cause upsets this season.
As noted by the Telegraph's Chris Bascombe: "Two games into this campaign, Liverpool are winning ugly but that beats losing and drawing uglier as they did too often a few months ago."
It's that sentiment that will ensure not many will be complaining about the less attractive style of play that's been on offer in these opening games against Stoke City and Bournemouth. Fluidity, it's hoped, will arrive later.
Liverpool were better against Bournemouth than they were against Stoke, with less direct balls up to Benteke played, but their real test arrives in their next match, away to Arsenal.
Defence
Post-match, Rodgers praised the defensive organisation of his team following two clean sheets.
This seemingly vindicates his decision to pair Lovren alongside Martin Skrtel and to continue to overlook Mamadou Sakho. But both were shaky in the early stages and against experienced Premier League forwards they will be tested far more.
Bournemouth clearly targeted Lovren in the early stages and he was left on his backside twice before he conceded a corner—from which Tommy Elphick out-jumped him but was adjudged to have fouled the Croat.
Perhaps Liverpool's defensive stability has arrived from areas other than the two centre-backs. Jordan Henderson, before he was withdrawn due to injury early in the second half, played a lot deeper than he did at Stoke, giving Skrtel and Lovren someone in front of them protecting.
Meanwhile, the two most impressive players in Liverpool's back four in these two opening games has comfortably been the two new full-backs, Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez.
Clyne was superb in both directions, getting forward well but also showing defensive pedigree and ability to get back and defend in transition.
On the left, Gomez looks assured, particularly for an 18-year-old, and there's something about having right-footed players at left-back that somehow makes the defence more solid. It worked with Jamie Carragher in 2001's cup treble campaign and it worked with Jon Flanagan there two years ago.
James Milner's work rate in midfield means there's no longer any passengers in midfield, no longer are teams able to bypass an ageing Steven Gerrard and exploit the space left in front of Skrtel and Lovren.
Liverpool appear better defensively, but this is less to do with Skrtel and Lovren, and more to do with the team as a whole.
Perhaps against Arsenal we will truly discover whether the duo can form a solid partnership for the season. Sakho will be watching keenly.
Effective vs. Exciting
The team Rodgers has picked for these opening two games has certainly been his; opting to overlook Sakho, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can and Roberto Firmino, preferring to stick with English players who he seemingly feels can ensure that instructions are carried out effectively.
It's efficient football rather than free flowing attacking football of Rodgers' title-chasers two seasons ago. This is more like football from certain times under Gerard Houllier or Rafa Benitez; results-oriented. After all, it's a results business and Rodgers knows that failure to get results will put his job in jeopardy in these early months.
With a run of away games at Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea next for Rodgers' side, it was vital that points were collected in these two games. Not conceding a goal in either will build confidence for all involved, and with some attacking players to call on from the bench, they can go into those games following a game plan to keep things tight then bring on players who can unlock a defence late on.
"... That philosophy to move the ball and get fluency. That will come and grow over the coming months," said Rodgers post-match, per LiverpoolFC.com.
Coutinho still looks a little rusty, he'll be able to influence games for longer periods. Henderson should be able to get forward more and provide the pressing, assists and goal threat he possesses, if/when Can is trusted to play the holding role.
Indeed, as the season progresses and Firmino acclimatises, Daniel Sturridge returns from injury, and the Europa League starts, changes will inevitably be made to the starting XI.
A front two of Benteke and Sturridge will certainly cause problems for Premier League defences, while the thought of having Coutinho, Firmino, Jordon Ibe and Henderson supporting them from midfield, plus Milner and Can adding to the mix, is an exciting prospect.
All these things will see Liverpool a more exciting proposition. For now, effective football is the order of the day.
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