Liverpool pass ‘tough challenge’ with flying colours

Bournemouth was one of the top five Premier League teams to lose, but Liverpool underlined their title hopes by triumphantly defeating them.

With 15 games to go, Liverpool are a point clear of the English champions as they head on to become the 20th-place team.

However, they had to work hard to earn a 2-0 victory at Vitality Stadium on Saturday thanks to Mohamed Salah’s two goals, a first-half penalty and a brilliant curled effort to add to their advantage.

Boss Arne Slot and his coaching staff celebrated these three most important points, despite refraining from discussing whether or not this was the kind of outcome that won titles.

With an 11-game unbeaten run, Bournemouth had already defeated Arsenal and Manchester City at home this year, defeating Newcastle 4-1 at St James’ Park on January 18 and 5-0 overtaking Nottingham Forest in the following game.

“Only a few]opponents] have been as tough as this”, said Slot, who will see his side’s lead cut back to six points on Sunday if second-placed Arsenal win at home against Manchester City.

The Cherries hit the post twice, once through Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier, and David Brooks scored the ball before a tight offside call ended the game.

When the game was tied at 1-0, Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson also made a crucial save with his legs, and Slot was quick to applaud his team’s defensive efforts.

“If you want to have any chance, you have to compete in terms of running, fighting, winning duels and that’s what the players did”, he said. In a game like this, Mo Salah’s inclusion is unquestionably beneficial.

” You need a team performance, a work rate and individual quality. You must do that to have any chance in this league, and I want them to fight from the first to the last second to get the best results.

Liverpool are still progressing nicely in all competitions. They advanced past the semi-final stage with a 1-0 lead after the first leg, moved into the last 16, and are currently in the fourth round of the FA Cup. They will now face Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, who they face on Thursday.

In an interview with Football Focus on Saturday, Slot, who became Reds manager last summer following Jurgen Klopp’s departure, said he could not have expected to have such a lead.

Slot knows what it is like to win a championship, having won the Dutch Eredivisie with Feyenoord and, worryingly for Liverpool’s title rivals, the Reds are not showing any signs of slipping up.

Since being defeated 1-0 at home by Forest on September 14th, this win extends their unbeaten league streak to 19 games.

“It was a battle, but I knew it would be”, added Slot. “All the points we have got, we have deserved them”.

Goalkeeper Alisson hailed his side’s mental strength and said: “It’s a great result away from home. We showed great desire, mentality and great quality.

” Bournemouth are really intense. They are top for running, intensity – the way they play, they’re aggressive. In every circumstance, you must be sharp and focused.

To win these games, it takes a lot of energy. This season, the Premier League is at a high standard.