Bournemouth midfielder Amine Adli struck deep in second-half stoppage time to condemn Liverpool to their seventh Premier League defeat of the season on Saturday, leaving the reigning champions still looking for their first league win of 2026.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he thought he had been fouled in the build-up to Bournemouth’s winner, which followed a chaotic melee after a long throw-in, but his side ultimately capitulated again despite dominating much of the second half.
“Losing never feels good, especially as a Liverpool player, and throughout the season we try to find consistency,” said the Dutch defender. Air sports.
Goals from Evanilson and Alejandro Jimenez put Bournemouth 2-0 ahead in the 33rd minute, but Van Dijk pulled one back before half-time and Dominik Szoboszlai leveled with a brilliant free-kick in the 80th minute.
The Reds looked set for a fifth straight draw in the league but Adli struck in the 95th minute to shatter the away side and send them back to Merseyside empty-handed.
A 3-0 win over Marseille in the Champions League in midweek suggested Arne Slot’s side could rediscover their form, but Saturday’s late winner raised questions about Liverpool’s morale and ability to close out games.
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“I think there is no doubt about that togetherness, but the consistency that we are looking for, that is something that still needs to be found and that is the reality,” said Van Dijk.
“I think there was a lot of praise for our performance and a lot of individual praise and we know how it works, and then three days later you lose a game like today and then the other side of the world comes out, so that’s something we have to deal with.
“But you know, we want to perform, we want to win games, and unfortunately that didn’t happen today.”
The defeat left Liverpool languishing in fourth place with 36 points, 14 behind leaders Arsenal, who play Manchester United on Sunday, while Bournemouth moved up to 13th with 30 points.
Published on January 25, 2026
