Bournemouth 0-0 Liverpool at half-time.
And honestly, this is not what Liverpool supporters would have expected after the build-up to this game.
Liverpool have had extra rest.
Bournemouth played on Thursday night.
Liverpool heavily rotated their team against Tottenham.
Yet somehow, after the opening 45 minutes, Bournemouth look like the fresher side.
The Reds have been slow from the opening whistle and have struggled to establish any real control of the game.
Liverpool struggling to get possession
The biggest concern has been Liverpool’s inability to keep the ball.
There has been a lack of rhythm to the Reds’ play, with Bournemouth disrupting Liverpool’s attempts to build attacks and forcing them into hurried passes.
Wirtz has barely had an opportunity to influence the game.
Gakpo and Barcola have seen very little of the ball in dangerous areas.
And Alexander Isak has been largely isolated up front.
Liverpool simply haven’t created enough.
For a team that came into this game knowing a win was badly needed, the performance has been nowhere near the required level.
Alisson keeps Liverpool level
Liverpool could easily have gone behind midway through the first half.
Alisson was forced into a terrific save at his near post, producing an excellent stop to keep Bournemouth from taking the lead.
It was another reminder of why Liverpool’s No.1 remains so important.
The Reds haven’t done enough to deserve to be comfortable at half-time, and without Alisson’s intervention, they could have been going into the break behind.
It looks like Liverpool played on Thursday
The most frustrating part is that Liverpool currently look like the team that played on Thursday night.
That should have been Bournemouth.
Instead, the hosts have looked sharper and more energetic for large parts of the first half.
Liverpool were supposed to have the physical advantage today.
They were supposed to be the fresher team.
They were supposed to have more energy after Iraola rested so many players against Spurs.
But none of that has been evident so far.
Iraola needs to change something
The second half has to be different.
Liverpool need more intensity.
They need to move the ball quicker.
They need to get Wirtz involved.
They need to find Gakpo and Barcola in better positions.
And they need to get Isak into the game.
There are options on the bench if Iraola decides something needs to change, with Gravenberch, Muñoz, Frimpong, Nyoni, Koumas and Ngumoha all available.
But hopefully the players who are already on the pitch can raise their level.
Because Liverpool need to win this game.
After three draws in their opening four Premier League matches, another dropped two points would be hugely disappointing — particularly given the rest advantage they had coming into this afternoon.
45 minutes left. Liverpool need to wake up.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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