Liverpool stunned by Bournemouth comeback as super-sub Ryan Fraser sparks 4-3 win
Reds appeared to have game won before substitute Fraser sparked them into into life and Nathan Ake sealed victory in stoppage time
Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp warned his players to wise up and learn from a stunning 4-3 stoppage-time defeat to struggling Bournemouth.
The Reds had been cruising but twice surrendered a two-goal lead before Nathan Ake grabbed a stoppage-time winner.
Senegal international Sadio Mane and Belgian striker Divock Origi, starting a league game for the first time this season, established a 2-0 lead for the visitors midway through the first half.
Callum Wilson halved the deficit from a penalty 11 minutes into the second half, but within seven minutes, Emre Can’s fine effort from the edge of the penalty area restored the two-goal cushion.
It was snatched away, however, in stunning fashion with three Bournemouth goals in the last 20 minutes.
Substitute Ryan Fraser and defender Steve Cook scored in the space of three minutes to bring Bournemouth level and in added time Chelsea loanee Ake grabbed a stunning winner after a mistake from Liverpool keeper Loris Karius.
“First of all I have to say a deserved win for Bournemouth,” Klopp said on Sky Sports. “A big fight from them. We gave the game away at a decisive point. We opened the door and they ran through and scored some wonderful goals. So that’s the deserved result.
“Even when we are in the lead at 2-0 it’s how we try to play football then we were static. We gave the game away because we didn’t play football any more.
“If we learn it’s OK. At 2-0 or 3-1 the game is not decided but the way we played after we gave it away. We gave Bournemouth the ball. These things happen.
“In football it can lead to a result like this. We have to learn from it.
“It doesn’t feel too good right now but sometimes we need it. Of course this can help us. No road is without rocks and stones.
“It’s three points no more, these things happen. You cannot be champions in December, relegated, promoted or whatever. The base is pretty good but we need to use our quality more.”
Man of the match Fraser changed the game after coming on, winning the penalty for 3-1, scoring for 3-2 and setting up the equaliser.
“It was an incredible game,” said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe on Sky Sports.
“It took our substitutes to make an impact and liven us up. Ryan Fraser deserved that opportunity today.
“It would have been easy for our players to give up and see out time, but our group knows not to give up. We scored at the right time, and the easy thing when you equalise is to sit back and defend that but thankfully the lads kept going.
“In the second half we looked like scoring every time we attacked. For this club and everyone involved it’s make for a very special day. These days are huge for us. We’d never been in the Premier League until last season so we’re making history for the club.
“Liverpool were very good in the first half. We had to dig deep, juggle things around and we came out a much better team.
“We changed things tactically and in personnel but also the mentality. We had to change. We were a little passive, too far off, and if you give good players time they punish you.
“It shows we have still got that spirit from when we were promoted from the Championship. It was first class when we were promoted and we didn’t want to lose that.
It was Liverpool’s first defeat in the last 12 league games and left them third in the Premier League, four points behind leaders Chelsea.
Additional reporting: Reuters
