Bournemouth have claimed a sensational 4-3 win over Liverpool in Sunday's Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium.
The Reds raced into a two-goal lead before the half-hour mark, courtesy of goals from Sadio Mane and Divock Origi.
Eddie Howe's charges halved the deficit just before the hour as Callum Wilson converted a penalty, but Liverpool claimed a third through Emre Can to seemingly put the game beyond the Cherries' reach.
However, goals from Ryan Fraser and Steve Cook drew the hosts level, before striking a dramatic winner in injury time through Nathan Ake, who made the most of a Loris Karius mistake to send the home fans into delirium.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action at the Vitality Stadium.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live match commentary of Sunday's Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Liverpool!
Despite it being December, it's all heating up in the title race as the Reds look to get back to within a point of a seemingly invincible Chelsea side, but Eddie Howe's Cherries stand in Jurgen Klopp's way this afternoon.
Liverpool and Chelsea have arguably been the most impressive sides in the top flight so far this season and it promises to be a tight battle for the trophy over the next couple of months, while Arsenal and Manchester City have struggled somewhat in comparison but cannot be ruled out of the title race.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, continue to impress in their second ever season in the Premier League, and currently sit 12th in the table. They've lost three of their last four league matches but have only suffered one defeat in their last five home league games, so they are more than capable of testing Liverpool today.
Without further ado, let's bring you the team news...
BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Ake, Arter, Gosling, Wilshere, Stanislas, King, Wilson
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Federici, Mings, Smith, Fraser, Pugh, Ibe, Afobe
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Lucas, Milner, Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mane, Firmino, Origi
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Moreno, Lallana, Klavan, Alexander-Arnold, Ejaria, Woodburn
Eddie Howe makes two changes to his side from their 3-1 defeat at Arsenal last weekend, with Artur Boruc replacing Adam Federici in goal and Jack Wilshere - who was ineligible to play against his parent club - coming in for Brad Smith. Adam Smith will move into defence, with Nathan Ake switching to left-back.
Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, makes two changes from last Saturday's 2-0 win over Sunderland as Lucas Leiva replaces Joel Matip - who has an ankle injury - at the back, and Divock Origi comes in for the injured Philippe Coutinho up front. Roberto Firmino has shaken off a calf knock to start in attack.
Divock Origi, who scored against Sunderland last weekend and in the midweek EFL Cup tie against Leeds United, starts his first Premier League game of the season after injuries to Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho opened the door, and Klopp is pleased about the timing of the Belgian's upturn in fitness and form.
The Reds boss said: "You don't always have influence on timing but in this case it worked out really well because it was exactly one or two weeks since Div was back in shape, in the race, and has the good shape. He is still 21 and he hasn't had the most match time in the last few months so then he had no rhythm but he is always working, never moaning."
In Howe's pre-match conference, he spoke of the impact that Jack Wilshere can have when the Cherries play the bigger clubs: "Wilshere is a key part of our attacking play, and his experience in the games against the top clubs is invaluable for us. We need to do everything right when you play the top teams. If you don't do one aspect well they will expose it. We've performed well in recent games which is hopefully a good sign."
Speaking of Howe, he celebrates a quite incredible milestone today - his 300th game in charge of Bournemouth. His journey with the South Coast side began in January 2009 with the financially stricken club on the brink of relegation from the Football League, and now finds them enjoying a second season in the top flight after promotions in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Nothing short of remarkable.
Howe is so highly rated in the English game that he was considered for the England manager's job. Howard Wilkinson, who was on the five-man panel who interviewed Gareth Southgate, told BBC Sport: "Eddie was considered. He fulfilled many of the criteria but at the end of the day Gareth was in place, he had many of the qualities and experience that was thought important. I'm sure Eddie's time will come."
So what is at stake in today's game in terms of climbing up the Premier League table? Well, Liverpool are currently third in the rankings, four points behind leaders Chelsea. A win for them would see them bounce up to second and within a point of the Blues. If Bournemouth win, they could climb as high as ninth.
HEAD TO HEAD: Bournemouth and Liverpool have only played nine games over the years, dating back to 1927. The record currently stands at zero Cherries wins, two draws, and seven Reds wins.
Between 1927 and 2014, the two teams had only met in cup games - August 2015 was the first ever time the two met in the league, and the outcome was a 1-0 win for the Reds. Liverpool then made their first ever league visit to the Cherries last season, winning 2-1 in April.
Exciting times at the Vitality today - not only does Howe reach 300 not out, but there is a new signing on the Cherries bench. In fact, remove the word "on" and you've nailed it.
💺
We're got a debutant today... Our new dugout! #BOULIV#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/VIN6oDF63W — AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) 4 December 2016
Jack Wilshere, who returns to the Bournemouth squad today, wants to put his injury woes firmly behind him. He told Sky Sports News: "Let's forget the last two years. Two years of injuries, of coming back, of trying to get fit and not getting in the team and then picking up another injury and missing too much football. Let's just erase the last two years and start again."
Quite a bit of difference between the values of the starting XIs on the pitch today, although it is worth noting that the Cherries bench (as in the players sitting on it, not the bricks and mortar and leather) cost £39m...
Liverpool's starting XI cost a combined £171m, compared to £3.9m for Bournemouth's team. Origi makes his 1st PL start of the season #PL pic.twitter.com/it4H0AGcae — Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) 4 December 2016
PREDICTION: Time for me to predict the score in today's game, and although I think Bournemouth will test Liverpool, the visitors will simply have too much for their opponents. I reckon a 4-1 win for Klopp's boys.
We're all set at the Vitality Stadium - the two sets of players are in the tunnel and kick-off is approaching.
KICKOFF: Following a minute's silence to remember those that tragically died in the Chapecoense plane crash, Wijnaldum gets the game underway for Liverpool.
Can skips past King in midfield and wins a free kick for the visitors which Firmino takes, but Francis defends well on the cover with Origi lurking.
Milner charges down the left and attempts to slip the ball inside to Firmino, who in turn tries a through-ball of his own which gets intercepted.
Firmino tries to find Origi twice, first with a cross, then with a short pass into the area from the left, but both probes are intercepted by King. All Liverpool in these early stages.
Milner gets the better of Francis on the left flank and curls in a cross towards the back post, but Smith is on hand to head away.
CHANCE! So close to Liverpool's opener as Henderson and Clyne combine and the latter plays in a precise cross to the back post, but Origi slips and fails to make proper contact with the ball, skewing it wide.
Ake makes an important challenge at the back to deny Mane after the winger had pounced on to a mistake from Gosling at the back. Liverpool force a corner and, quarter of an hour in, continue to be well on top.
The Reds win four corners in a row as the hosts struggle to clear the ball behind from Henderson's kicks, but eventually they manage to get clear.
King catches Milner with a late clip and gifts Liverpool a free kick in a dangerous position on the left-hand side. All one-way traffic here at the Vitality.
Milner tries to lay the free kick off towards Henderson, but the skipper isn't paying attention. They eventually get it in the box, but Firmino's volley is blocked. Bit of a gaffe there.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 LIVERPOOL (SADIO MANE)
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-2 LIVERPOOL (DIVOCK ORIGI)
Wow! Bournemouth were struggling to cope with Liverpool's attacking forays but they've well and truly crumbled in the space of just over two minutes! Mane opens the scoring for the visitors as he races on to Can's through-ball, holds off Ake and slides home, and two minutes later Origi scores an absolute pearl of a goal, racing onto Henderson's defence-splitting pass, rounding Boruc and rifling off the post and into the net from a really tight angle!
How will the Cherries respond? It was only a matter of time before they conceded, based on the balance of play, but to concede two in such a short space of time, Howe will need to change something pronto if they are to avoid a thumping.
Can takes a blow and falls down. He receives treatment briefly, but looks fine to continue.
Stanislas rifles a ferocious shot towards goal - Bournemouth's first of the contest - but his effort is blocked by Lucas on the edge of the area and Liverpool come forward again. Henderson gets into position to cross but sends the ball straight into the hands of Boruc.
Firmino picks up the ball on the right from Clyne and cuts in on his left foot before opting to go for goal, but slices well over the bar.
CHANCE! Bournemouth come close as Stanislas slides the ball to King in the inside right channel, who in turn rifles across the face of goal, but Karius makes the save, although the ball deflects off Milner and trickles just past the post.
PENALTY SHOUT! The home faithful want a penalty as Ake goes down, seemingly under pressure from Firmino, when the corner comes in, but referee Robert Madley waves it away.
Liverpool win a free kick in a good position, which Henderson plays short to Can in the left channel, but Bournemouth's defence hack clear.
Arter and Wilshere combine well in midfield to send the former into the final third, but a well-timed challenge from Lucas thwarts the attack.
King lays the ball off to Francis down the right flank - he gets two chances to send a cross into the box, but he fails to find Wilson in the middle.
There will be two minutes of added time at the Vitality Stadium.
HALF TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-2 LIVERPOOL
We've reached the halfway point of the game and Bournemouth have a mountain to climb as they trail Liverpool by two goals.
The Reds dominated the opening 30 minutes with the home side struggling to get a touch of the ball, and indeed made it count with two goals in the space of three minutes, courtesy of Sadio Mane and Divock Origi.
Bournemouth improved as the half went on, although they still struggled to match their dangerous opponents, but they will be aggrieved at having had a very legit penalty shout turned down when Nathan Ake was brought down by Roberto Firmino - the look on the Brazilian's face appear to suggest that he knew he could have been in trouble.
Sadio Mane has also scored 15 goals in his last 21 Premier League appearances since March 20 - only Sergio Aguero (18) and Alexis Sanchez (17) have scored more in that time.
.@LFC score 2 goals in 2 mins:
Mane - now club's top scorer in 16-17 with 7 goals
Origi - 7th goal in his last 8 starts#PL #bouliv pic.twitter.com/qOMAyCpJKw — Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) 4 December 2016
Can Bournemouth complete a famous turnaround in the second half? We've already had a frankly incredible one today. In the second round of the FA Cup, Curzon Ashton were leading AFC Wimbledon 3-0 going into the 80th minute of their game - they went on to lose 4-3. Whoever decided to stick a cheeky pound on a Wimbledon win when they were 3-0 down, I salute you!
KICKOFF: Back underway at the Vitality Stadium. One change, made by the hosts, as Joshua King is replaced by Jordon Ibe, who takes on his former club.
BOOKING: More confidence within the Bournemouth ranks in the early stages of the second half as the players launch into some promising runs, although this eagerness comes back to bite them as Wilshere is shown a yellow for dissent after he was judged to have fouled Henderson.
BOOKING: Another yellow for the hosts as Milner gets brought down by Francis, who gets booked for his troubles. The subsequent Liverpool free kick is forced out for a corner, but Henderson's set piece is headed out of danger.
BOOKING: Not quite as exciting as the earlier goal rush, but we have a booking rush right now - Henderson gets the third yellow in five minutes for clipping the heels of Stanislas.
SUBSTITUTION: Stanislas can't continue. He tries to get to his feet, but can't put any weight down on his right foot. He comes off for Ryan Fraser.
PENALTY! Fraser makes an immediate impact as he is brought down by Milner in the box and wins his side a penalty! No debate this time - it's a Cherries spot kick.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-2 LIVERPOOL (CALLUM WILSON, PENALTY)
Just before the hour and Bournemouth have halved the deficit as Wilson steps up and slams home the penalty with a precise low shot into the bottom left corner! Game on!
Madley has had a word with Klopp, who appeared upset about the penalty. The Liverpool boss may be sent to the stands if he continues to misbehave, by the looks of things.
Fraser bursts forward through the middle and lays the ball into the path of Wilson, but the latter fails to keep the move going and, rather than finding Wilshere, the ball is cleared.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-3 LIVERPOOL (EMRE CAN)
Can restores Liverpool's two-goal cushion in emphatic fashion, collecting Mane's pass about 20 yards out before curling a ferocious effort beyond the outstretched hand of Boruc into the top corner. Back to square one for the Cherries, but they cannot be blamed for that one - it was a great strike.
Can speeds down the left flank and whips a low ball across the face of goal, but Francis is there to clear the danger.
SUBSTITUTION: Sadio Mane, who seems to be slightly limping, is withdrawn as former Cherries academy product Adam Lallana comes on in his place.
CHANCE! Fraser, who has impressed since coming on, almost puts Bournemouth within a goal again as he latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and fires at goal, but Karius punches the fierce strike out for a corner.
CHANCE! Milner takes a corner and the trajectory of the ball nearly catches Boruc out, but the keeper just about gets back on his line to keep it out. That was incredibly close.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 2-3 LIVERPOOL (RYAN FRASER)
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 3-3 LIVERPOOL (STEVE COOK)
Honestly can't believe what has just happened. Bournemouth have struck twice in quick succession and they're now level!
Fraser's goal was the product of a swift counter-attack as Wilson sent a cross into the box and, despite Afobe missing it, the ball broke to Fraser just inside the area and he lashed a shot into the bottom corner.
Moments later the Vitality Stadium erupted as Wilshere sent Fraser down the right flank and the latter's cross found Cook in the box, who teed himself up then volleyed his strike past Karius.
CHANCES! Bournemouth are playing like a team possessed and are determined to grab a fourth! Afobe breaks past Lovren and Lucas before firing at goal, only for Karius to pull off a fine save, and moments later Wilshere collects the clearance from the resulting corner and blazes over!
Liverpool have completely lost their composure here. Bournemouth seem content to sit back, however - they appear as if they would be happy with a point.
BOOKING: Can goes into the book for a high tackle on Fraser, who surely is in for a Man of the Match shout. He has played a part in all three of his side's goals.
Francis does well down the left to win a corner off Henderson, but Afobe is offside when the cross comes in. We have five minutes of stoppage time here at the Vitality Stadium.
CHANCE! Liverpool almost win it as the corner is swung in and Lovren knocks it down to Origi, who turns and fires just over the bar!
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 4-3 LIVERPOOL (NATHAN AKE)
Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. This could well go down as one of the games of the season. Liverpool led 3-1, now they're losing 4-3 with moments to go before the final whistle.
Karius spilled Cook's long-range effort onto the turf in the six-yard box and Ake rushed in to bundle the ball home - cue bedlam in the stadium. Absolute scenes!
FULL TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 4-3 LIVERPOOL
Well, what an absolutely delirious, stunning game that was. Liverpool looked in absolute cruise control well into the second half, leading Bournemouth 3-1, but Eddie Howe's charges turned it right around - and what better way (or worse way) to settle it than with an injury-time goal? Incredible.
That's all we have time for here at the Vitality Stadium but stay with Sports Mole as we bring you all the latest news, match reports and reaction from the day's big games! Thanks for following and have a good weekend!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
