⚽ Goals
Evanilson – 26′ – AFC Bournemouth (assist: Alex Scott)
Álex Jiménez – 33′ – AFC Bournemouth (assist: James Hill)
Virgil van Dijk – 45′ – Liverpool (assist: Dominik Szoboszlai)
Dominik Szoboszlai – 80′ – Liverpool
Amine Adli – 90+5′ – AFC Bournemouth
Bournemouth break Liverpool hearts with stoppage-time drama
Bournemouth delivered one of the Premier League’s most dramatic finishes by defeating Liverpool 3-2 at the Vitality Stadium, sealing victory with virtually the final kick of the match. The Cherries had surged into a two-goal lead, surrendered their advantage late on, and still found the composure to strike again, leaving Arne Slot’s side stunned.
Liverpool dominated possession in the opening stages but were undone by defensive errors and moments of hesitation, particularly during a costly spell when they were reduced to ten men. Despite a stirring comeback inspired by their captain and midfield leader, the visitors could not deal with one final long throw — and Bournemouth made them pay.
First-half chaos swings momentum Bournemouth’s way
Liverpool started confidently, circulating the ball with authority and pinning Bournemouth deep. Yet the breakthrough arrived against the run of play in the 26th minute, when Alex Scott kept the ball alive at the byline and squared for Evanilson, who swept home from close range to give the hosts the lead.
The game turned decisively seven minutes later — and controversially. Joe Gomez collided with Alisson while trying to prevent the opener and was forced off, but Liverpool failed to complete the substitution before play restarted. With the visitors temporarily down to ten men, Bournemouth struck again. James Hill threaded a perfectly weighted slide-rule pass into space, and Álex Jiménez raced clear to finish calmly through the goalkeeper in the 33rd minute.
That moment proved pivotal and later drew criticism from Liverpool’s bench, with the visitors furious that play had not been halted for the injured defender to be replaced.
Just when Liverpool looked in danger of unraveling, their captain responded. In the 45th minute, Virgil van Dijk rose highest to meet a corner from Dominik Szoboszlai, glancing his header beyond Petrovic to halve the deficit before the break.
Liverpool rally as Bournemouth debutant enters the fray
The second half was frantic and open. Liverpool pushed higher, with Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz probing between the lines, while Bournemouth threatened repeatedly on the counter. Alisson was forced into smart saves from Alex Scott and Evanilson as the hosts sought to restore their cushion.
With the match stretched, Bournemouth handed a debut to Alex Toth in the 85th minute, introducing the Hungarian midfielder as fresh legs for the closing stages of an increasingly chaotic contest.
Liverpool’s pressure finally told in the 80th minute. Salah disguised a short free-kick, nudging the ball into the path of Dominik Szoboszlai, who unleashed a fierce strike into the far corner to level the score and seemingly complete the comeback.
Adli delivers the final twist
Just as the visitors began to sense momentum shifting their way, Bournemouth found one last surge. A long throw into the Liverpool area in stoppage time caused panic, the ball ricocheting around a crowded six-yard box before Amine Adli reacted fastest, stabbing it home from the tightest of angles in the 90+5th minute to trigger wild celebrations inside the stadium.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk later reflected on the moment, saying: “Last minute of the game, very tough to take. We worked very hard in the second half to get back into it. To concede that late is very disappointing.” He also claimed he was “clearly blocked” in the build-up to the decisive goal.
Key numbers
- Bournemouth ended a run of 13 Premier League matches with just one win.
- Liverpool saw their 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end.
- The Cherries registered multiple shots on target, including late efforts from Scott and Evanilson that required saves from Alisson.
- Liverpool enjoyed the majority of possession but conceded twice during moments of defensive disorganisation.
What it means
For Bournemouth, this was more than three points — it was a statement of resilience after weeks of frustration, capped by a moment of pure opportunism from Adli. Iraola’s side climbed the table and restored belief with a result that could reshape their season.
For Liverpool, it was another damaging setback. Slot’s team showed character to recover from two goals down, yet their inability to manage key moments — especially while temporarily down to ten men — left them punished once again, with consistency still proving elusive.
