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What just happened?

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I don’t know where to start really. I think it’s safe to say that life as an AFC Bournemouth fan has been a little crazy in recent years, but in terms of isolated games Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Liverpool is probably as mad a match as I’ve seen following the club.

Our dramatic 3-3 against Everton last season was similar in that we looked dead and buried at half time - but that game had only a last minute equaliser in our favour. This time we got a winner. It wasn’t just the cherry on the top of the cake, but the candles, jelly, and party hats to go along with it.

What was truly bizarre was that until the madness of the last twenty five minutes I didn’t feel like we were really in the game - merely floating around the periphery of it, often being mere bystanders while Liverpool pinged the ball around us with irritating ease.

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Most of the first half was very hard to watch, as we simply couldn’t get close to any of Jürgen Klopp’s players - and when we did we were outmuscled or outfought to the ball. It was a display that made me concerned that our impressive draw against Tottenham in October was a mere blip, and that we simply don’t have the means to compete with the very best in this division.

After full time I think differently of course, and the fact we can put in a half of such limp football against such a strong side and still win is hugely encouraging.

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What didn’t help our cause was our bizarrely assembled back four though, with Nathan Aké, Simon Francis, and Adam Smith all arguably playing in the wrong positions - particularly the latter, who looked lost on the left side of defence (he usually plays on the right).

It was only after they had all been rejigged into more natural places on the pitch that the team finally clicked on around the hour mark - and with Liverpool suddenly looking truly vulnerable for the first time in the game we took full advantage. Or as Klopp put it, his side “opened the door” - and we certainly didn’t hesitate on their generous invitation.

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There were several players key to the comeback of course, but it’s hard not to single out Scotsman Ryan Fraser for particular praise. He’s struggled to nail down a place in the side since returning from his loan spell at Ipswich Town last season, but he literally dragged us back into the game - winning a penalty, scoring, and then setting up the equaliser. Super sub doesn’t quite do it justice, and even if he does little else in his AFC Bournemouth career (please note: I think he’s destined for great things) he won’t be forgotten for the pivotal part he played on Sunday.

It does demonstrate how we’re creating a squad with much greater strength in depth than last season too, with players hungry to take their chance when they get it. Fraser is a good example of course, but Nathan Aké is arguably an even better one - after his winner on Sunday he’s won us a couple of games in the last few weeks now, and looks like he’s played in this side for years. Not bad for a player bought in on loan.

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There’s areas for improvement of course - defensively we were at fault for the first two goals, and questions have to be asked about the terrible way we initially set up - but I think it would be tough to be too negative after such a thrilling encounter. We just beat Liverpool for the first time in our history after all. We’ve certainly had worse results…