Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool

Daniel Sturridge scores Liverpool's second goal, his ninth of the season in all competitions

An experimental Liverpool side won at Bournemouth to record a third consecutive victory in all competitions.

Roberto Firmino's rebound and Daniel Sturridge's header gave the visitors a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time.

Bournemouth rallied after the break but Joshua King's stoppage-time strike came too late for a comeback.

The result lifts Liverpool up to eighth place in the Premier League table, while the Cherries remain 13th.

Liverpool made 10 changes from Thursday's momentous Europa League win over Borussia Dortmund as manager Jurgen Klopp named an inexperienced side.

The fringe players repaid the German's faith with an accomplished performance which preserved their record of having never lost against Bournemouth.

Klopp's faith in youth

Liverpool still have a slim hope of finishing in the top four but winning the Europa League is their likeliest route to Champions League qualification - and Klopp's selection suggested he agrees.

Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward made his club debut and young defender Connor Randall was given a first Premier League start.

Jordon Ibe and his fellow winger, the less experienced Sheyi Ojo, shone as the Reds' youngsters seized control of the first half.

However, it was two established first-team players who made the most telling contributions.

Top scorer Firmino opened the scoring from a rebound after Artur Boruc had saved Sturridge's audacious backheel, before the England striker headed in Ibe's free-kick just before half-time.

Opta graphic of Roberto Firmino goal — This graphic shows Liverpool's neat build-up play which led to Roberto Firmino's goal

Cure for a hangover

A European hangover is an ailment which has undermined Liverpool's Premier League campaign.

Their victory against Stoke on 10 April was only the second time in eight attempts that Klopp's side had won after a Europa League fixture this season.

However, this mature display suggests the Reds are capable of finishing the campaign strongly on both fronts.

With six games left in the Premier League, Klopp now faces a balancing act between Liverpool's domestic commitments and a Europa League semi-final against Villarreal.

Bournemouth under the radar

Given Leicester's extraordinary title challenge, Bournemouth's first Premier League campaign has somewhat passed under the radar.

A run of four wins from their previous six games had Eddie Howe's side targeting a top-half finish, though this defeat is a setback to those hopes.

Bournemouth were competitive throughout against Liverpool, testing Ward on numerous occasions in the second half.

Their perseverance was rewarded with King's low strike in added time, even if the goal was ultimately in vain.

Man of the match - Jordon Ibe

Jordon Ibe (left) with Daniel Sturridge — Liverpool's young winger (left) was a constant threat, linking well with his team-mates and providing the assists for both goals.

What they said

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told BBC Sport: "They've never played together. They could have defended better, played a bit more football in the first half - but it was really, really good.

"Danny Ward was brilliant. Let the self-confidence grow of goalkeepers, they're normal human beings."

Klopp praises young Reds performance

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe: "The goal came too late for us. We felt in the second half had we got that goal earlier it would have made an interesting end to the game.

"We were missing that spark, especially in the first half. You have to give Liverpool credit."

Bournemouth lacked spark - Howe

Stats you need to know

Liverpool have now won away at 50 different grounds in the Premier League, more than any other side.
Roberto Firmino has been involved in 12 goals in his past 11 Premier League games (8 goals, 4 assists).
Daniel Sturridge has scored in each of his past three away league games.
Joshua King has scored four goals in his past six Premier League games for Bournemouth.
The Reds have scored at least twice in five of their past six league games away from home, failing to score in the other.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Bournemouth

Formation 4-1-4-1

1Boruc
2Francis
5Elphick
3S Cook
11Daniels
6Surman
30RitchieSubstituted forWilsonat 77'minutes
4Gosling
19StanislasSubstituted forGrabbanat 45'minutes
10GradelSubstituted forPughat 59'minutes
17King

Substitutes

7Pugh
13Wilson
16MacDonald
23Federici
28Grabban
29Wiggins
32O'Kane

Liverpool

Formation 4-4-1-1

52Ward
56Randall
4K TouréSubstituted forSakhoat 67'minutes
21Leiva
44B Smith
54Ojo
35Stewart
24Allen
33IbeSubstituted forLallanaat 78'minutes
11FirminoSubstituted forOrigiat 75'minutes
15Sturridge

Substitutes

7Milner
10Coutinho
17Sakho
20Lallana
22Mignolet
27Origi
38Flanagan

Referee:: Mike Jones
Attendance:: 11,386

Match Stats

Home TeamBournemouthAway TeamLiverpool

Possession: Home51%; Away49%

Shots: Home18; Away19

Shots on Target: Home5; Away6

Corners: Home5; Away4

Fouls: Home9; Away9

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Bournemouth 1, Liverpool 2.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bournemouth 1, Liverpool 2.

90'+4'
Post update
Attempt missed. Steve Cook (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Marc Pugh with a cross.
90'+4'
Post update
Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+4'
Post update
Foul by Joe Allen (Liverpool).
90'+3'
Goal!
Goal! Bournemouth 1, Liverpool 2. Joshua King (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Andrew Surman.
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt missed. Steve Cook (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Charlie Daniels with a cross following a corner.
90'+3'
Post update
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Lucas Leiva.
90'+1'
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Artur Boruc.
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Divock Origi (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sheyi Ojo.
88'
Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Adam Lallana.
86'
Post update
Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
86'
Post update
Foul by Connor Randall (Liverpool).
85'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Joshua King (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Surman.
85'
Post update
Joshua King (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
85'
Post update
Foul by Adam Lallana (Liverpool).
83'
Post update
Foul by Dan Gosling (Bournemouth).
83'
Post update
Adam Lallana (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'
Post update
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Adam Lallana.

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