Liverpool continued their winning start to the Premier League season by beating Bournemouth 1-0 at Anfield this evening.
The Cherries thought that they had taken the lead in the fifth minute, but Tommy Elphick's header was ruled out for a foul on Dejan Lovren.
Christian Benteke then gave Liverpool the lead with a close-range finish from Jordan Henderson's cross, but Philippe Coutinho appeared to be offside and interfering with play.
Bournemouth pushed for an equalsier in the second half and they came close to scoring when Matt Ritchie fired against the post.
Benteke had the chance to make the game safe in the final minute when he struck the bar, but it mattered little as the Reds held on to claim all three points.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone! It's been a packed weekend of fixtures in the Premier League, but the action isn't over yet. There's still one more game left, as Bournemouth play their first ever away match in top flight against Liverpool at Anfield.
It's good to be back... #LFC pic.twitter.com/bybzyPce5c
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 17, 2015
The Reds kicked off the season in winning fashion last weekend with a 1-0 victory at Stoke City. It looked as if the match was set to finish in a goalless draw, until Philippe Coutinho fired in a stunning goal just four minutes from the end.
However, things didn't quite go Bournemouth's way last weekend on their Premier League debut against Aston Villa. There was a huge sense of optimism around Dean Court, but a second-half header from Rudy Gestede saw them slip to a defeat
Right, I'm sure you're all wondering which players will be starting at Anfield this evening, so without further ado, let's have a look at the all-important team news.
LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Skrtel, Gomez, Henderson, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana, Ibe, Benteke
BOURNEMOUTH XI: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, O'Kane, Surman, Gradel, King, Wilson
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Bogdan, Toure, Firmino, Moreno, Can, Origi, Ings
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Federici, Smith, Distin, Mings, Gosling, Pugh, Tomlin
As you can see from those lineups, Liverpool are unchanged from their victory last weekend. It means that Christian Benteke continues to lead the line, with Adam Lallana and Jordan Ibe supporting him in the attack. Jordan Henderson and James Milner remain in the middle of the pitch and Joe Gomez has kept his spot after an impressive start to life at the club.
Meanwhile, the Cherries have made two changes from their opening-day defeat. Max Gradel is handed his first start after joining the club from Saint-Etienne, while Eunan O'Kane is brought into the midfield. Marc Pugh and Dan Gosling are the players who drop to the bench.
The first game of the season is always highly anticipated by fans of Liverpool and they will be hoping that their team produce a better performance than in their last home outing. That finished in a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, which saw Steven Gerrard play in front of the Kop for the last time.
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Things got even worse for the club a week later, as they were thrashed 6-1 by Stoke City to end their season on a desperate low note. A turbulent summer full of speculation about the future of the manager and the players followed, before they kicked off their new season last weekend.
As fate would have it, the Reds were paired with Stoke for their opening Premier League match and it gave them a chance of earning some redemption for the humiliation they suffered in May. The game was largely uninspiring and a draw looked on the cards, but with just a few minutes left, Philippe Coutinho produced a piece of magic to ensure the Reds left the Britannia with all three points.
It was vital for the Reds to get off to a good start and earn some confidence, after a poor end to the last campaign, which saw them win just one of their final six games. They looked much tighter at the back and the partnership between Jordan Henderson and James Milner in the heart of the midfield also showed promising signs.
Hoping to cause a shock on Merseyside this evening are Bournemouth, who couldn't of wished for a better opening away fixture in their maiden Premier League campaign. The Cherries have come a long way in such a short space of time and it is only seven years ago that they started the League Two season with a 17-point deduction.
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The club has been through plenty of financial troubles over the years and in 2008 they were placed in administration after accumulating debts of £4m. They were also just minutes away from liquidation, which makes their rise through the leagues even more spectacular.
The arrival of Maxim Demin as their owner four years ago helped to ease their monetary worries and has coincided with them winning promotion in two of the last three campaigns. It is last season's success that will be remembered most fondly, as they played some fantastic football on their way to the Championship title.
Out of the three teams that won promotion to the top flight, many pundits have been tipping the Cherries to stay up, but they did not get off to the start they wanted last weekend. They took on Aston Villa at a packed Dean Court and had plenty of chances to score, but the game was settled by a second-half header from substitute Rudy Gestede.
This will be the seventh meeting between the teams, but Bournemouth have not won any of the previous six games. Four of those have resulted in Liverpool victories, with the Reds winning in the FA Cup and the League Cup at Dean Court last year.
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Liverpool have not lost their opening home match in the Premier League for the past 11 years, since a defeat to Chelsea. They also have a good record against teams who have been promoted to the Championship, with their last defeat to Blackpool coming five years ago.
PREDICTION: We should be in for a good match this evening, with two teams who like to get the ball down and get forward quickly. Liverpool should be able to create more goalscoring opportunities than last weekend, but the Cherries will also fancy their chances. I just think that the Reds may have a bit too much quality, so I'm going for a 3-1 Liverpool win this evening.
There's still a few minutes to go until kick off, so make sure you have a look at our video preview for today's match!
The players have just made their way out onto the pitch and there is a great atmosphere inside Anfield. We're just a couple of minutes away from the start of the match, as You'll Never Walk Alone begins to play.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Anfield!
The visitors have made a promising start to the match and they win an early corner down the left. Instead of being whipped straight into the middle, the ball is played to Francis outside the box, but his floated cross into the box is easily cleared.
GOAL DISALLOWED! We're only five minutes into the game, but already we have a controversial decision at Anfield. Elphick thinks that he has given Bournemouth the lead when he heads in from a corner, but the referee blows for a foul on Lovren. He was slightly leaning on the Liverpool player's shoulders, but that was a very harsh call.
Bournemouth are looking the better side here and there are no nerves showing from their players. They are doing a great job of quickly closing down their opponents and giving them no time to settle on the ball.
Liverpool haven't shown too much threat going forward, but they break quickly with Ibe charging down the left. He then plays it to Coutinho and continues his run into the box, but the return pass from the Brazilian is overhit and ends up going harmlessly out of play.
Coutinho is starting to get much more involved in the game and he does better this time with a great ball inside for Clyne, who had ventured forward down the right. The full-back then tried to whip a cross into the middle, but Daniels got across well to cover and cleared the danger.
Once again Coutinho is in the thick of the action and he picks the ball up on the halfway line, before looking to pick out the run of Benteke over the top. His ball is only slightly too long for the Belgian who can't get to the ball before the keeper, but it was another promising sign for the Reds.
It's certainly been a watchable opening 20 minutes this evening, but we are still waiting to see our first shot on target. Aside from Elphick's disallowed strike, there has been little goalmouth action, but Liverpool just seem to be turning the screw.
SHOT! Bournemouth have been good on the ball this evening, but they give it away cheaply to Benteke around 25 yards out from goal. The Belgian then turns into space and looks to bend one into the corner, but his accuracy is slightly off and the ball veers wide of the far post.
The Reds are starting to pile on the pressure and Coutinho threads a great ball down the left for Ibe. The winger then drills a low ball across the six-yard box looking for Benteke at the back post, but Elphick is there to clear behind for a corner.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth (Christian Benteke)
You can't say that this hasn't been coming, as Liverpool make their dominance count by taking the lead. The Reds play a corner short to Henderson, who then whips a teasing ball across the box that Benteke meets at the back post to touch into the corner. Bournemouth may complain that Coutinho tried to get to the cross before Benteke, despite being in an offside position, which is against the new rules.
SHOT! What a stunning goal this would have been from the Reds! Henderson is found just outside the box following a set piece and hammers in a powerful strike that only just goes over the bar.
Despite a shaky start to the match, Liverpool are well on top at the moment and looking to double their lead before the break. They have steadily improved throughout the half and the link up between their attacking players has been great to watch.
YELLOW CARD! O'Kane is booked for a foul on Coutinho, although there looked to be very little in that challenge and he can consider himself rather unlucky.
PENALTY APPEAL! Liverpool win a free kick in their opponents' half, but instead of whipping it into the box, Milner plays the ball down the line for Henderson. The midfielder gets there before Gradel, before going to ground inside the box under the winger's challenge, but he is quickly back up on his feet and whips a ball into the middle that the Cherries clear. There weren't too many appeals from the hosts, but it's one of those that you have seen given.
You just feel that Bournemouth could do with the half time break coming now, as it will give Howe a few minutes to reorganise his team. They started the game so well, but after the first 20 minutes they have lost their way and have shown very little attacking threat.
MISS! What a great chance this is for Liverpool to take a two-goal lead into the break. Coutinho tries to slip in Benteke, but the ball breaks kindly to him just inside the box. He has a clear shot at goal, but he ends up placing his low strike wide of the far post.
There is going to be one minute added on before the break.
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
So, it's half time at Anfield, where Liverpool have a 1-0 lead over Bournemouth thanks to Christian Benteke's first goal for the club. The Cherries can consider themselves slightly unfortunate to be behind after Tommy Elphick's disallowed header, while Philippe Coutinho appeared to be offside in the build up to his side's goal.
PHOTOS: @bentekechris20 celebrates a goal on his Anfield debut for #LFC pic.twitter.com/tmDonLvLWA
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 17, 2015
The Reds may have started sluggishly this evening, but they ended the half in control, as shown by the statistics. They have seen 61% of the possession and have had seven attempts on goal, although just one of those found the target, and indeed the back of the net. Bournemouth have had just one shot, but that doesn't take into account the goal they had chalked off.
This isn't the only game that we have for you this evening, as there's Super Cup action from Spain between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao. The La Liga winners will be trying to overturn a four-goal deficit after last week's incredible first leg, and you can catch that right here.
RESTART! Bournemouth take the kick off for the second half and get the action back underway!
SHOT! The visitors made a good start to the first half and they have looked bright since the break here. They also have the first shot of the second period, with Ritchie firing in a low drive from 20 yards that was just too central and easily gathered by Mignolet.
SHOT! Some more decent play from the Cherries sees Wilson find Ritchie just outside the box. The Scot then cuts onto his left foot and again goes for goal, but this time his effort flies high and wide of the far post.
SUB! This could be a real blow for Liverpool, as Henderson goes off to be replaced by Can. It's unclear what sort of injury the Liverpool captain has picked up, but he is one player they won't want to be missing when they face Arsenal next week.
CHANCE! Benteke has given the visitors some real problems this evening and he shows his strength to rob Elphick down the left. He then plays the ball back to Ibe, who darts into the box and flashes in a low cross to Milner, but the midfielder can only touch the ball wide of the far post.
This game has really opened up in the past few minutes and it's giving each team plenty of chances to counter. This will probably suit Liverpool more, as Ibe has threatened countless times down the left with his speed and neat touches.
OFF THE POST! Bournemouth are just a few inches away from getting back on level terms. King plays a low ball to Ritchie on the edge of the box and the Scot lashes in a fierce effort that has the keeper beaten, but clips the outside of the post on its way out of play.
SUB! The hosts are making their first change of the evening, with Tomlin coming on for King.
SHOT! The Cherries are looking really threatening at the moment and the home supporters around Anfield sense that their team is coming under pressure. They survive once again though, as O'Kane latches onto a pass from Wilson inside the box and drills into the side netting from a tight angle.
Ritchie has been the standout player since half time and he has another shot from outside the box that deflects wide of the post. From the resulting corner, Mignolet comes off his line and just manages to punch the ball to safety, but he shows more assurance to collect a low ball from Daniles that was flashed with pace across the box.
SUB! It's a second change for the Reds, with Firmino making his home debut in place of Ibe.
Liverpool just seem to have regained a measure of control in the past few minutes and they are looking more threatening. They still haven't managed to create too many chances and their goal remains the only shot that they have got on target this evening.
SHOT! Bournemouth just haven't been able to handle Benteke's power this evening and the Belgian breaks clear once again down the left. He then looks up and sees Coutinho in space on the edge of the box. The Brazilian manages to get onto the pass, but it just bounces up slightly, and by the time he makes contact with the ball, Daniels is there to make a superb block.
YELLOW CARD! Gomez is the first Liverpool player to pick up a card this evening.
YELLOW CARD! Ritchie quickly follows Gomez into the book after dragging back Can.
YELLOW CARD! The cards are starting to pile up now, as Tomlin becomes the third player in as many minutes to be booked for a foul on Lallana.
Liverpool seem content to try and keep possession at the moment as they look to hold on to their one-goal lead. It seems that it will be enough at this stage in the game, but you feel that the visitors will create at least one more telling chance.
SUBS! Bournemouth are going to make another change, with Smith coming on for Gradel, while Coutinho is being replaced by Moreno for Liverpool.
At the moment the Cherries are enjoying a good spell of possession inside the Liverpool half, but they are lacking a real threat inside the box. They are continuing to play the ball short instead of whipping cross into the middle, and it's not putting the Reds under too much pressure.
CHANCE! The visitors have had their best moments from set pieces this evening and they win a corner down the right. It is whipped into the box by Daniels and appears to take a touch of Tomlin in a crowd of bodies, before looping over the bar.
SUB! It's a final change for the visitors, as former Everton man Gosling is coming on for O'Kane.
Bournemouth are throwing the ball into the box now as they look to salvage a point, but Liverpool are dealing with everything that is coming their way. It has been a spirited display from the visitors and they have shown plenty of signs that they are capable of performing in the top flight.
OFF THE BAR! It's almost game over as Benteke hits the woodwork. The Belgian gets in front of his marker to meet Clyne's low cross in the centre of the box, but he sidefoots the ball onto the crossbar. The rebound eventually drops to Lallana, but the midfielder can't keep his shot down.
There are going to be at least four minutes of stoppage time.
YELLOW CARD! Cook is shown a card by the referee, but it was actually Francis who should have been booked, after bringing down Moreno just outside the box.
FULL-TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
Liverpool have managed to claim the three points this evening, despite a spirited performance from the visitors. They will feel that Elphick's header should have stood and Benteke's goal should have been chalked off, but the Reds won't mind, as their winning start to the season continues.
Right, that's just about all we've got time for from Anfield. Make sure you stick with us for analysis and player ratings and all of the reaction from tonight's match. Until then, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
