Liverpool arrived at Bournemouth unbeaten in 13 matches, the longest active run in Europe’s top five leagues. But that streak masked deeper issues, which were brutally exposed when Amine Adli struck a dramatic 95th-minute winner. The reigning champions are now winless in five Premier League games and increasingly look like a team in decline rather than one defending a title.
Sloppy Defending and Predictable Attack
Despite scoring twice from set pieces, Liverpool offered little from open play and defended poorly. Virgil van Dijk’s mistake gifted Evanilson an early goal, while confusion during Joe Gomez’s injury stoppage led to Alex Jimenez’s strike. Alan Shearer summed up the mood, saying Liverpool “look miles off the team we saw last season” and are making too many defensive errors while struggling creatively.
Fatigue, Injuries and Squad Concerns
Manager Arne Slot pointed to exhaustion and fixture congestion after a midweek European match, noting several players ran out of energy and three defenders were forced off by the hour mark. While Liverpool’s depth has been tested by injuries, Slot still had experienced options on the bench. Yet he admitted Bournemouth could have scored earlier and deserved credit for pushing for the win.
A Damning Title Defence
The late defeat continued a worrying trend: Liverpool have now dropped points five times in stoppage time this season and conceded more goals from throw-ins than any other Premier League side. If results go against them, they could soon be closer to the relegation zone than the title race—a stark fall from last season’s dominance. Their realistic goal now may simply be a top-four or top-five finish, highlighting just how far they have fallen from title contenders to a team struggling to find its identity.
