Liverpool FC’s challenging 2025-26 Premier League season took another disappointing turn on Saturday, January 24, 2026, as they were beaten 3–2 away at AFC Bournemouth, with the decisive goal coming in the fifth minute of stoppage time at the Vitality Stadium. The defeat halted Liverpool’s long unbeaten run and deepened growing concerns about the team’s consistency and defensive frailties under manager Arne Slot.
The match started poorly for Liverpool, who conceded early goals to Evanilson (26′) and Álex Jiménez (33′). Bournemouth took advantage of some loose defending and a lack of sharpness from Liverpool’s backline, carving out two well-taken chances to go 2–0 up before half-time.
Liverpool’s hopes of a comeback were briefly revitalised just before the break when Virgil van Dijk reduced the deficit with a powerful header, scoring in first-half added time and giving the Reds a foothold back in the game.
After the interval, Liverpool began to find a better rhythm. Their persistence paid off in the 80th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai curled in a brilliant free-kick, assisted by Mohamed Salah’s clever lay-off, to make it 2–2. At that point, momentum seemed to be shifting in Liverpool’s favour, and their supporters dared to dream of a comeback and a share of the spoils.
However, the drama was far from over. In the fifth minute of stoppage time — and with virtually the last kick of the game — Bournemouth winger Amine Adli scrambled the ball home from close range after a long throw-in created chaos in the Liverpool penalty area. The strike confirmed Bournemouth’s victory and left Liverpool devastated.
The defeat marked Liverpool’s first league loss since November and put an end to a 13-match unbeaten streak in all competitions that had been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise inconsistent campaign. Despite dominating possession — with some sources reporting Liverpool had more than 60% of the ball — the Reds lacked the cutting edge and defensive solidity needed to secure at least a draw.
Manager Arne Slot reacted afterwards by pointing to fatigue and the intensity of a packed schedule as contributing factors, saying his players “ran out of energy” and that the team struggled to maintain intensity through the final moments of the game. He also expressed frustration with the amount of stoppage time added — feeling that more should have been played once delays from substitutions and VAR checks were considered.
For Bournemouth, the result was a massive morale boost. Taking all three points against one of England’s traditional big clubs was a highlight in their season. The victory lifted them up the Premier League table and provided priceless momentum for the months ahead.
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