Bournemouth vs Liverpool: Slot under pressure as Reds suffer late defeat to leave door open for Man Utd

Liverpool succumbed to a last-minute heartbreak at the Vitality Stadium, losing 3-2 to a resilient Bournemouth side.

Although Liverpool arrived at the Vitality Stadium buoyed by a midweek 3-0 European win over Marseille, their early performance suggested their domestic struggles were far from over.

Aside from a curling Mohamed Salah effort that missed the target, clear chances were non-existent for both sides until James Hill fired a half-volley over the bar 18 minutes in.

Bournemouth had struggled to take the lead in matches since the start of 2026, but that changed in the 26th minute. A long ball from Marcos Senesi was poorly dealt with by Virgil van Dijk, allowing Alex Scott to reach the byline and cut the ball back for Evanilson, who made no mistake in firing the hosts ahead.

Álex Jiménez increased Bournemouth's lead before Virgil van Dijk pulled one back for Liverpool.

The second half saw Liverpool dominate possession, eventually finding a spectacular equaliser in the 80th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai curled a brilliant free-kick into the top corner.

However, just as it seemed the momentum had shifted, the Reds' defensive frailties were exposed one final time. In the 95th minute, a long throw-in from the right caused total panic in the Liverpool box. Amidst a frantic goalmouth scramble, the ball fell to Amine Adli, who kept his cool to poke home the winner.

The result leaves Liverpool in a shaky position. Although they remain in fourth place tonight with 36 points, the door is now wide open for their rivals. If Manchester United (35 points) defeat league leaders Arsenal tomorrow, Slot’s side will officially drop to fifth in the standings.