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Report: Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth

LIVERPOOL controversially made it two wins from two and kept up their 100% Premier League record this season.

Christian Benteke who cost Liverpool £32.5m from Aston Villa in the summer fired home in front of the Kop 26 minutes into his Anfield debut . However, there was controversy as Philipe Coutinho who was in an offside position and he also went to strike Jordan's Henderson's cross, under the new offside rule the goal should not have been given.

For Bournemouth it means two successive 1-0 defeats and they would have felt even more aggrieved when Captain Tommy Elphick's header was disallowed for a foul on Liverpool defender Dejan Lovern after 10 minutes.

Brendan Rodgers fielded the same eleven that beat Stoke on the opening weekend of the season last weekend, meaning that Christian Benteke would get his home debut and leave Danny Ings waiting for his.

Last seasons manager of the year Howe made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Aston Villa last Saturday with Euan O'Kane and summer singing Max Gradel coming in for Dan Gosling and Mark Pugh.

It was the Cherries who started the brighter and should have been in front inside 10 minutes when Tommy Elphick powered home a header from a corner but referee Craig Pawson disallowed the goal for a foul on Lovern.

That scare woke up Liverpool and they burst into life taking over proceedings in midfield with Coutinho and he was involved in Benteke's winner, the reason the goal should not have stood. Red's captain Jordan Henderson whipped the ball into the box from the right and Coutinho who was coming back from an offside position made a motion towards the ball which under the rules should be penalised.

But the linesman's flag remained down and Benteke scored his first goal for the club.

Coutinho should have made it 2-0 before the break but he shot wide from 12 yards. At the start of the second half it was again Bournemouth who started the better with Euan O'Kane and Matt Ritchie both shooting wide.

However, the Cherries's main problem was testing Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet only managing to get two shots on target.



Both managers Brendan Rodgers(left) B'mouth boss Eddie Howe(right)
Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers: 'We said it would be a tough game. Defensively we were very good, our play was better after the goal. I am very pleased.

"I haven't seen the replay, but its a goal. The interpretation of offside changes every season, so it is difficult. If you are offside, you are offside.

"Christian Benteke offers us other options, his hold up play was excellent. When the ball comes into the box he is a real threat and handful. He deserved his goal.

"I'm very pleased for the players, six points, two clean sheets and the team will grow. A cult of new players finding their feet."

Bournemouth Manager Eddie Howe: "It's tough to take but we have to. We are learning tough lessons, the margins for success are small. It will be character building.

"I didn't say a lot to the officials, they have a hard job but I will speak to them privately. I want feedback on decisions."

Player Ratings

Liverpool 

 Mignolet 6

Clyne 6
Lovern 6
Skrtel 6
Gomez 6

Milner 7
Henderson 7

Coutinho 8
Lallana 5
Ibe 6

Benteke 8

Bournemouth 

 Boruc 6

Francis 6
Cook 6
Elphick 7
Daniels 5

Surman 6
Gradel 5
King 5
Ritchie 7
O'Kane 6

Wilson 5

Ref: Crag Pawson Att: 44,102






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