Liverpool must hope their season’s aspirations do not come to be moulded by 18 minutes against Bournemouth. Jürgen Klopp’s side were 3-1 up with 14 minutes left at The Vitality Stadium last December, but somehow managed to lose 4-3.
Here they offered a pale, but damaging imitation by squandering a 2-1 advantage with just four minutes remaining at Anfield, their three centre-backs unable to prevent Josh King turning and drilling past Simon Mignolet for Eddie Howe’s second precious away point of the week.
As on the south coast when Liverpool were still harbouring title rather than top four ambitions, Klopp’s side had only itself to blame.
This time, the manager’s vow to adopt caution in an effort to edge his side to the points tally required to keep the Manchester clubs and Arsenal at bay backfired.
Philippe Coutinho, who joined former Middlesbrough winger Juninho as the highest-scoring Brazilian in English football with his 29th Liverpool goal, was substituted for centre-back Joel Matip. Divock Origi had just headed the home side ahead but the momentum shift the home side had enjoyed since half-time came to a halt.
In fairness to Klopp, Coutinho was ill. The manager explained 25 minutes was too long for substitute Daniel Sturridge and there were not too many options on an inexperienced bench. Liverpool should also have been smarter on the counter-attack when the opportunities for a third goal presented themselves – and Mignolet had little to do – but Bournemouth took confidence in their possession and the edginess in the home ranks was as defining as Steve Cook’s long throw-in and King’s turn and strike.
“We had to change Phil because he felt sick at half-time. He vomited,” explained Klopp. “There is no joy when you have to take off your best player. He played really well. The decision was to organise a little differently, three at the back plus the two in front with Lucas and Emre [Can]. We could have closed the game in one moment, we didn’t, we left it open and then with a second goal after a set-piece there was nearly vomit from me.
Liverpool 0 - 1 Bournemouth (Benik Afobe, 7 min)
“We have to take it. It is my responsibility, all of this. We have lost games like this so maybe we can take this as a positive and say it is one point more.”
Bournemouth opened the scoring when Georginio Wijnaldum underhit a backpass to Mignolet. Benik Afobe pounced and prodded past the Belgian goalkeeper. This typified Bournemouth’s early energy in contrast to Liverpool initial lethargy. Eddie Howe opted for an ambitious 4-4-2 and pushed Liverpool back, forcing sloppy passing along the back four and impatient howls from the home crowd.
Liverpool 1 - 1 Bournemouth (Philippe Coutinho, 40 min)
Klopp, as is often the case in these less glamorous fixtures, was ticking, visibly noting the contrast in mood, tone and volume between this game and the recent visits of Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Klopp notices every misplaced ball is greeted with more intolerance; he stares, puzzled, at his new Main Stand when a delay in possession provokes a guttural plea to hit the ball skywards.
From one such moment Liverpool equalised. The crowd beseeched Mignolet to hit long and high but the keeper paused and the audience shrieked. Klopp held his arms to his side quizzically. Then Mignolet obliged, Firmino controlled and eased the ball towards Coutinho, and the Brazilian did the rest from close range five minutes before half-time.
Then Origi stepped up. He is promising in patches, particularly when he moves wide and faces full-backs with a willingness to utilise his pace. That is not often enough.But the youngster headed his side ahead from close range on 58 minutes, benefiting from the strength and skill of Wijnaldum.
Liverpoolwaited for opportunities rather than hunted them, although Howe felt there was more to it than a tactical shake-up.
“The game had obviously changed and we threw caution to the wind,” he said. “It is a good sign for us. When 2-1 down here you have to keep believing and keep the focus that you can score.” Bournemouth are creeping closer to safety; Liverpool glancing nervously at those still too close for comfort.
Full time: Liverpool 2-2 Bournemouth
The referee has seen enough at Anfield and blows the final whistle.
Average touch positions (full time)
Average touch positions (full time) 9:51PM
Full time: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
The final whistle blows at Stamford Bridge.
Average touch positions (full time)
Average touch positions (full time) 9:47PM
GOAL!
Bournemouth have found an equaliser right at the end - a Joshua King goal makes it 2-2.
Liverpool 2 - 2 Bournemouth (Joshua King, 87 min) 9:39PM
Full time: Hull 4-2 Middlesbrough
The final whistle blows at KCOM Stadium.
Average touch positions (full time)
Average touch positions (full time) 9:39PM
Full time: Swansea 1-3 Spurs
It's all over at Liberty Stadium.
Average touch positions (full time)
Average touch positions (full time) 9:37PM
Full time: Arsenal 3-0 West Ham
The final whistle blows at Emirates Stadium.
Average touch positions (full time)
Average touch positions (full time) 9:36PM
Full time: Southampton 3-1 Crystal Palace
The referee has seen enough at St. Mary's Stadium and blows the final whistle.
Average touch positions (full time)
Average touch positions (full time) 9:36PM
GOAL!
A goal from Christian Eriksen for Spurs makes the score 1-3.
Swansea 1 - 3 Spurs (Christian Eriksen, 90 + 4 min) 9:34PM
GOAL!
1-2. Son Heung-Min has struck what looks like a late winner for Spurs.
Swansea 1 - 2 Spurs (Son Heung-Min, 90 + 1 min) 9:34PM
It's been a mismatch at Liberty Stadium so far
Spurs are dominating this game, firing in a total of 15 shots compared to three from Swansea so far.
Swansea vs Spurs shots on goal 9:30PM
GOAL!
A late leveller from Dele Alli for Spurs makes it 1-1.
Swansea 1 - 1 Spurs (Dele Alli, 88 min) 9:27PM
GOAL!
A goal from James Ward-Prowse for Southampton makes the score 3-1.
Southampton 3 - 1 Crystal Palace (James Ward-Prowse, 85 min) 9:27PM
Southampton piling on the pressure
The hosts have attempted 24 shots so far, with nine of them hitting the target.
Southampton vs Crystal Palace shots on goal 9:27PM
GOAL!
Arsenal are cruising now. Olivier Giroud adds another to make it 3-0.
Arsenal 3 - 0 West Ham (Olivier Giroud, 83 min) 9:26PM
GOAL!
2-1. Maya Yoshida has struck what looks like a late winner for Southampton.
Southampton 2 - 1 Crystal Palace (Maya Yoshida, 84 min) 9:18PM
GOAL!
A goal from Divock Origi for Liverpool makes the score 2-1.
Liverpool 2 - 1 Bournemouth (Divock Origi, 59 min) 9:16PM
It's been a mismatch at Anfield so far
Liverpool are dominating this game, firing in a total of 15 shots compared to three from Bournemouth so far.
Liverpool vs Bournemouth shots on goal 9:14PM
GOAL!
Hull have restored their two-goal lead thanks to a goal from Harry Maguire: it's 4-2 now.
Hull 4 - 2 Middlesbrough (Harry Maguire, 70 min) 9:12PM
GOAL!
Theo Walcott has doubled Arsenal's lead - it's now 2-0.
Arsenal 2 - 0 West Ham (Theo Walcott, 68 min) 9:10PM
One-way traffic at Emirates Stadium
It's been all Arsenal, with the hosts racking up 15 shots so far - West Ham have managed just five in reply.
Arsenal vs West Ham shots on goal 9:04PM
Second half: Liverpool 1-1 Bournemouth
The action restarts at Anfield.
Second half: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
The action restarts at Stamford Bridge.
GOAL!
1-0. Mesut Özil has opened the scoring for Arsenal.
Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham (Mesut Özil, 58 min) 9:01PM
It's been a mismatch at St. Mary's Stadium so far
Southampton are dominating this game, firing in a total of 15 shots compared to ten from Crystal Palace so far.
Southampton vs Crystal Palace shots on goal 8:49PM
Half time: Liverpool 1-1 Bournemouth
The first 45 minutes is up at Anfield.
Average touch positions (half time)
Average touch positions (half time) 8:49PM
Second half: Hull 3-2 Middlesbrough
The action restarts at KCOM Stadium.
Second half: Arsenal 0-0 West Ham
The action restarts at Emirates Stadium.
Second half: Swansea 1-0 Spurs
The second 45 has begun at Liberty Stadium.
Second half: Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace
The action restarts at St. Mary's Stadium.
Half time: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
The half-time whistle blows at Stamford Bridge.
Average touch positions (half time)
Average touch positions (half time) 8:41PM
GOAL!
Liverpool level it up with a goal from Philippe Coutinho: it's 1-1.
Liverpool 1 - 1 Bournemouth (Philippe Coutinho, 40 min) 8:39PM
The home side needing no invitation to shoot so far
Liverpool have frequently threatened the Bournemouth goal - ten shots have been attempted, with five of them on target.
Liverpool vs Bournemouth shots on goal 8:35PM
GOAL!
Chelsea are back in front again - Eden Hazard makes it 2-1.
Chelsea 2 - 1 Man City (Eden Hazard, 35 min) 8:34PM
Half time: Hull 3-2 Middlesbrough
The first 45 minutes is up at KCOM Stadium.
Average touch positions (half time)
Average touch positions (half time) 8:33PM
Half time: Arsenal 0-0 West Ham
The teams head in at the break at Emirates Stadium.
Average touch positions (half time)
Average touch positions (half time) 8:32PM
GOAL!
Middlesbrough are right back in it now - it's 3-2, thanks to a goal from Marten de Roon.
Hull 3 - 2 Middlesbrough (Marten de Roon, 45 + 1 min) 8:31PM
Half time: Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace
The teams head in at the break at St. Mary's Stadium.
Average touch positions (half time)
Average touch positions (half time) 8:31PM
Half time: Swansea 1-0 Spurs
The first 45 minutes is up at Liberty Stadium.
Average touch positions (half time)
Average touch positions (half time) 8:30PM
GOAL!
Right on half time, Southampton are level - Nathan Redmond has made it 1-1
Southampton 1 - 1 Crystal Palace (Nathan Redmond, 45 min) 8:30PM
The shot count is similar
Southampton and Crystal Palace are evenly matched in attack so far - the home side have fired in nine shots to the visitors' nine.
Southampton vs Crystal Palace shots on goal 8:26PM
The shot count is similar
Arsenal and West Ham are evenly matched in attack so far - the home side have fired in five shots to the visitors' five.
Arsenal vs West Ham shots on goal 8:26PM
GOAL!
1-1: Sergio Agüero scores the leveller for Man City.
Chelsea 1 - 1 Man City (Sergio Agüero, 26 min) 8:24PM
Man City failing to make their possession pay
The visitors have had the majority of the ball - but still they trail to Chelsea.
West Ham looking unadventurous so far
West Ham are yet to pose a significant threat in the final third.
GOAL!
A goal from Abel Hernández for Hull makes the score 3-1.
Hull 3 - 1 Middlesbrough (Abel Hernández, 33 min) 8:16PM
GOAL!
Christian Benteke scores for Crystal Palace to make it 0-1!
Southampton 0 - 1 Crystal Palace (Christian Benteke, 31 min) 8:15PM
Spurs failing to make their possession pay
The visitors have had the majority of the ball - but still they trail to Swansea.
Man City respond
The visitors have their first shot of the game, in reply to two so far from Chelsea.
Chelsea vs Man City shots on goal 8:12PM
Liverpool can't make their domination of the ball count
For all their possession, the hosts still trail to Bournemouth.
Liverpool vs Bournemouth 8:12PM
GOAL!
A goal from Oumar Niasse for Hull makes the score 2-1.
Hull 2 - 1 Middlesbrough (Oumar Niasse, 27 min) 8:11PM
GOAL!
Chelsea take an early lead and they have Eden Hazard to thank for it: 1-0.
Chelsea 1 - 0 Man City (Eden Hazard, 10 min) 8:08PM
GOAL!
Benik Afobe strikes early to open the scoring - it's 0-1 to Bournemouth.
Liverpool 0 - 1 Bournemouth (Benik Afobe, 7 min) 8:08PM
Bournemouth hit back
Bournemouth register their first shot, in response to two so far from Liverpool.
Liverpool vs Bournemouth shots on goal 8:01PM
Kick off: Liverpool vs Bournemouth
They're off and running at Anfield.
Kick off: Chelsea vs Man City
They're off and running at Stamford Bridge.
GOAL!
Hull level it up with a goal from Lazar Markovic: it's 1-1.
Hull 1 - 1 Middlesbrough (Lazar Markovic, 14 min) 7:59PM
Crystal Palace respond
The visitors have their first shot of the game, in reply to three so far from Southampton.
Southampton vs Crystal Palace shots on goal 7:57PM
Hull hit back
Hull register their first shot, in response to two so far from Middlesbrough.
Hull vs Middlesbrough shots on goal 7:56PM
GOAL!
Wayne Routledge strikes early to open the scoring - it's 1-0 to Swansea.
Swansea 1 - 0 Spurs (Wayne Routledge, 11 min) 7:53PM
West Ham threaten for the first time
Following the earlier Arsenal effort, West Ham register their first attempt at goal.
Arsenal vs West Ham shots on goal 7:51PM
Swansea threaten for the first time
Following the earlier Spurs effort, Swansea register their first attempt at goal.
Swansea vs Spurs shots on goal 7:50PM
GOAL!
Álvaro Negredo strikes early to open the scoring - it's 0-1 to Middlesbrough.
Hull 0 - 1 Middlesbrough (Álvaro Negredo, 5 min) 7:45PM
Kick off: Arsenal vs West Ham
The action gets started at Emirates Stadium.
Kick off: Southampton vs Crystal Palace
We're under way at St. Mary's Stadium.
Kick off: Swansea vs Spurs
They're off and running at Liberty Stadium.
Kick off: Hull vs Middlesbrough
They're off and running at KCOM Stadium.