Online Reporter
BOURNEMOUTH. − Liverpool boss Arne Slot blamed tiredness for his side’s concession of a 95th-minute goal away to Bournemouth that saw them slump to a 3-2 Premier league defeat after coming back from two goals down on Saturday.
The reigning champions have been a shadow of last year’s side so far, losing seven league games and struggling to break down sides that they brushed aside during their imperious march to the 2024/25 title.
“For the last five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 games, we mainly have to play with the same players, the players we have available and then sometimes a few of them could be, in the end of the game, a bit tired,” Slot said in post-match interviews with a variety of British broadcasters.
“I think that’s what you could see today in the end as well.”
Bournemouth raced out to a 2-0 lead before being pegged back to 2-2 in the 80th minute through Dominik Szoboszlai’s equaliser, and the remainder of the game was a wide-open, end-to-end affair.
“Both teams were trying to score a goal, they had better opportunities than us in the last 10 minutes and then in the end there is a long throw in which led to a goal,” Slot said before criticising officials for not playing more added time.
But in the end, that didn’t matter because they scored, although maybe we could have had them two or three (more) minutes but this game should not have had (only) four minutes of extra time.”
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was delighted with his side’s resilience and how they reacted to Liverpool’s surging comeback.
“It is a massive win for us because we were in a difficult situation,” he told the BBC.
“We are finding ways to get points against difficult opposition. I am very proud of the team and what we are doing. We are adapting, and we are getting good points.”
Slot introduced Andy Robertson at halftime despite speculation that the Scotland captain could join Tottenham before the end of the transfer window. Robertson has just six months left on his contract and is reportedly keen for more first-team action after falling behind Milos Kerkez in the pecking order at Anfield.But Slot insisted that he needs all the bodies he can get right now.
“I need all my players,” added Slot. “Robbo had to come in at halftime because I always knew another 90 minutes for Milos against a very intense Bournemouth side was not a possibility. There are a lot of games to play and with the players available I have to manage that as well because the last thing we need right now is another injury.” − SuperSport
