Reds need to find exit from set-piece hall of SHAME

Not quite back to the drawing board - but it might not be too far off

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Hugo Ekitike shows his frustration last night

(CAMERASPORT)

Not even the fabled set-piece balance could save Liverpool here.

So continues the maddening way in which the Reds are frittering away any chance of making ground in the Premier League.

Certainly, while Arne Slot's side are prospering in the Champions League in recent months, they are doing themselves few favours in ensuring their participation in the competition next season through the domestic route.

Now the Liverpool boss will once again find himself under pressure after a 13-game unbeaten run was ended in such painful, dramatic and utterly avoidable fashion.

It will have negated any positivity that came from the manner in which the Reds fought back from two goals behind to level having effectively gifted Bournemouth their quickfire first-half double, and that both Liverpool strikes came from dead-ball situations to address a shortcoming long highlighted by Slot.

The first goal was particularly notable with Virgil van Dijk glancing in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner to give the visitors hope just before the interval.

It was the first time the Reds had converted such an opening in the Premier League this season.

The equaliser was a second example inside a week of creative play from a dangerous free-kick, Szoboszlai this time curling around the wall from 25 yards after the ball was rolled into his path from Mohamed Salah.

It must be said no team has conceded more times from set-pieces in the Premier League than Bournemouth this season. Next on that list of shame? Liverpool.

And clearly old habits die hard.

When Bournemouth forced a brace of long-throw opportunities in the final seconds of the game, the Achilles heel of being unable to defend set-pieces that debilitated Liverpool during the opening months returned in untimely fashion.