Liverpool suffered a dramatic 3-2 loss to Bournemouth, ending their 13-game unbeaten streak and further hindering their chances in the Premier League title race. Despite acknowledging his team's self-blame, manager Arne Slot cited several contributing factors, including challenging wind conditions, fixture congestion, and a lengthy injury list. The defeat left Liverpool fourth in the table, 14 points behind leaders Arsenal, with concerns about potentially slipping out of Champions League qualification spots.
The loss occurred just three days after Liverpool's Champions League victory, highlighting a quick turnaround that Slot believes led to player fatigue. He specifically pointed out that Liverpool was the only Champions League team with only two days between matches. Captain Virgil van Dijk also struggled, making errors that led to Bournemouth's goals. His defensive misjudgments, particularly on the first goal where he cited the wind, and his role in the late winner, which he felt was a result of being blocked by his own teammate Curtis Jones, were key moments.
Adding to Liverpool's woes, Joe Gomez sustained an injury during the first goal incident, forcing the team to play with 10 men for a period. This situation, coupled with the team's decision not to immediately put the ball out of play, led to Bournemouth scoring their second goal. Gomez's injury added to an already extensive list of unavailable players, including Bradley, Chiesa, Isak, Konate, Leoni, and Bajcetic. Slot suggested that these injury problems have impacted the team's ability to consistently perform across all competitions, unlike the previous season.