In a very attacking line-up we started with two out and out wingers in Ibe and Ojo and youngsters Randall and Smith coming in to fill the full-back positions. Stewart return to the fold for the injured Emre Can possibly out for the season.
In the absence of Henderson (injured) and Milner (sub) Lucas Leiva took the captain’s armband at centre-back alongside Kolo Toure.
Bournemouth showed their respect for the 96 with a floral wreath carried onto the field by the two captains which said simply “Bournemouth remembers the 96.’
Like Borussia Dortmund, Bournemouth exude class.
Two minutes in, Sturridge fastened onto a defensive pass deflected off Firmino shooting straight at keeper Boruc.
Liverpool as is the standard pressed high closing down the Bournemouth defence. The home side to their credit isolated Lucas with the speedy King using his pace to pressurise the Brazilian.
Ojo, who shone once again, picked the ball on the right, cut in past the left-left before showing tremendous balance to go outside the covering defending before seeing his shot blocked. Randall following in saw his shot pawed away by Boruc. Bournemouth were struggling to settle into the game against the speed and pressing of Liverpool starving them of any room to build up from the back.
Ward started the game confidently kicking well out of hand and on the ground and picking off a whipped cross in mid-flight.
Both Ibe and Ojo looked threatening from the get go. Pacey and incisive they released the ball at the right time and both were not restricted by staying out on the touchline. Ojo, in particular barely wasted a ball.
But it was Ibe of the two who made more of a direct impact. Four minutes from half-time, Ibe who has been inconsistent for much of the season collected a ball on the left from Ojo who drifted from right to centre of the pitch. Ibe went on the outside before threading a ball through to Sturridge with his back to goal, who controlled with two touches before instinctively back heeling powerfully for Boruc to pull off a diving save. Firmino, hovering like the striker his manager says he is, prodded home from 3 yards.
Sturridge looking sharper by the week started his 4th consecutive league game for the first time since April 2014 shot over from 25 yards.
The England forward would not be denied. Leaping to connect to Jordon Ibe’s excellent dead-ball delivery from the left, he headed into the corner of the net.
Three minutes into the second-half we should have been home and hosed. Boruc spilled a corner and Firmino from the centre of the area turned and volleyed wide.
Joe Allen was catching the eye intercepting on numerous occasions and showing steely determination in the tackle. Without Can, he moved the ball forward with excellent short passing and little shuttle runs to take the ball out of defensive areas.
He played a delightful through ball to send Sturridge through only for the striker to see his dink clip the outside of the post.
Stewart, caught a couple of times in possession, did a tremendous amount of sweeping up in front of the back and in between the centre-halfs.
King at the other end of the pitch continued to give Lucas a torrid afternoon continually beating him for pace.
Francis excellent cross from the right was met powerfully by Lewis Grabban from the centre of the area with Ward saving well low down to his left.
Sturridge with seven minutes remaining ran on to Adam Lallana’s (on for Ibe) pass, controlled the ball at the edge of the area before turning the defender inside the box and unleashing a tremendous drive which crashed against the upright. The striker ravenously hungry for what would have been his 50th goal for Liverpool again linked up with Lallana before turning this time on his right to fire just over.
Three minutes into injury time Bournemouth stuck. Joushua King finally turned Lucas in a central area before smashing home a ferocious shot to leave Ward with no chance.
With added time almost at an end, Steve Cook rose majestically in the box to meet Marc Pugh’s cross and almost inflicted a Dejan Lovren style finish to Liverpool.
The victory showed that Liverpool have strength in depth, beating a very good Bournemouth team having made ten changes and playing a debuting goalkeeper. It also shows just how much winning can have a positive affect through a club.
Excellent victory for a scratch side who have never played together in a top class game.
Man of the match: Joe Allen – excellent from start to finish playing as if he was the captain elect rather than making only his fifth start of the season. Led from front inspiring a team full of inexperience, tackling and intercepting at one end and delivering key passes and through balls at the other. If Joe keeps on like this in the remaining games it may well gain him a new contract as with the absence of the injured Henderson and Can his influence on the team is paramount. His game offers the creative elements that both Lucas and Stewart do not possess in midfield and only the inexperience duo Brannagan and Perdo Chirivella of those available have anything like that ability in their lockers (will be interesting to see whether they get some game time in the remaining games in a bid to ensure cover).
Both Ibe and Ojo showed excellent ability on the ball. Ibe, as he hasn’t done so much this season was confident and controlled on the ball, involved in both goals showed good awareness for the first in spotting Sturridge and the second in his superb delivery for the striker to head home.
Ojo is excellent running with wonderful ball and looks to go both ways. One run in which he went inside and then outside taking out two defender before seeing his shot blocked was thrilling.
Daniel Sturridge on another day could have a hat-trick or even four goals. But it was great to see him looking sharp in the last third and enjoying his play. This is a player after all who did not have a pre-season, but now looks to be flourishing – let’s hope it a continues.
Randall held his own and Smith as he has on occasions looks more of a defender than Moreno and possesses quality in the final third.
Onwards and upwards.
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