Bournemouth Stun Liverpool With 95th-Minute Premier League Winner

Bournemouth delivered a Premier League night to remember at the Vitality Stadium, snatching a dramatic 3-2 victory over Liverpool with a 95th-minute winner that sent the home crowd into raptures and left Arne Slot’s men reeling. The Cherries, who have struggled for consistency this season, found resilience and a touch of fortune just when they needed it most, while Liverpool’s campaign took another gut-wrenching blow in their quest for Champions League qualification.

The contest, played on January 24, 2026, unfolded in classic English football fashion: unpredictable, chaotic, and loaded with drama. Liverpool, fresh off a morale-boosting win over Marseille in Europe, travelled south with optimism, but their familiar defensive frailties and late-game lapses proved costly once again. The Reds have now lost seven league games this season—just one shy of their total from the previous two campaigns combined. The defeat leaves them fourteen points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, with their top-four ambitions hanging by a thread.

It was a night when both teams’ attacking intent was on full display. Bournemouth, whose home games average 1.45 goals scored and one conceded, struck first against the run of play. In the 27th minute, Alex Scott’s determined play on the byline caught Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk off guard, allowing Scott to square for Evanilson, who fired home from close range. The goal stunned Liverpool, who had looked comfortable in possession but were undone by a simple long ball and a momentary lapse in concentration.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors just seven minutes later. In a cruel twist, Joe Gomez picked up an injury in a collision with his own goalkeeper, Alisson, leaving Liverpool temporarily down to ten men. The Reds failed to put the ball out of play to facilitate a substitution, a decision that would haunt them almost immediately. Bournemouth capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Alex Jimenez slipping through Liverpool’s stretched backline and slotting past Alisson to double the lead in the 34th minute. Jamie Redknapp, analyzing for Sky Sports, was quick to criticize Liverpool’s decision-making: “This took seven minutes before Liverpool decided to make a substitution. I find it staggering in this day and age. As a player sometimes you have to take responsibility.”

Despite the setback, Liverpool managed to claw their way back into the contest. Virgil van Dijk, seeking redemption from his earlier errors, rose highest in first-half stoppage time to flick home a corner, halving the deficit and giving the visitors hope heading into the break. The Dutchman later reflected on the match’s controversial conclusion, telling Sky Sports, “What I felt on that pitch is that I was blocked but the referee and VAR didn't give it. I can stand here and say it shouldn't have been given but it was, so it is what it is.”

The second half saw Liverpool push forward with renewed intent, controlling possession and probing for an equalizer. Their efforts paid off in the 80th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai curled a brilliant free-kick into the top corner, sending the away supporters into celebration and setting up a breathless finale. For a moment, it seemed Liverpool might escape with a point, or perhaps even snatch a winner themselves.

But Bournemouth weren’t done. In the dying seconds, James Hill’s long throw unleashed chaos in the Liverpool penalty area. The ball ricocheted through a sea of bodies before falling to Amine Adli, who squeezed his shot past Alisson from a tight angle. The stadium erupted as Adli wheeled away in celebration, his teammates piling on in a moment of pure elation. “I think, like I said before, we play football for moments like this,” Adli told BBC Sport. “The emotions are amazing, but overall it shows the character of the team. We played a very good game against a very tough opponent and this goal is showing all the work rate of the whole team.”

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola hailed the significance of the win, especially given his squad’s recent struggles with injuries and inconsistent form. “It is a massive win for us because we were in a difficult situation, especially last week in terms of numbers and in defensive players,” Iraola said. “We are finding ways to get points against difficult opposition. We are adapting and we are getting good points. I think it is a win that we needed.” Defender Marcos Senesi echoed the sentiment: “Unbelievable because we need a win. Everyone below us is getting points, so it is massive for us to win today against a really good side like Liverpool.”

For Liverpool, the defeat was yet another example of late heartbreak—a recurring theme under Arne Slot this season. Remarkably, it was the third time in this Premier League campaign that the Reds have conceded a 90th-minute winner, the most in a single season in club history. Slot, visibly frustrated, questioned the amount of stoppage time added by officials. “For me, four minutes of added time was not enough but in the end that didn't matter because they scored,” he told Sky Sports. “There was already a free-kick that took two or three minutes, there was VAR moments, there was substitutions. That's what I said to them, that four minutes wasn't enough.”

Adding to Liverpool’s woes is the uncertainty surrounding Andy Robertson’s future. The Scottish left-back, long a stalwart for the Reds, may have played his final game for the club amid ongoing transfer discussions with Tottenham over a £5 million package. Robertson’s potential departure would leave a significant void, and fans have called for the club to give him a proper send-off if he is to leave at season’s end.

Liverpool’s defensive record remains a major concern. They have now conceded 18 goals in 11 away matches, an average of 1.64 per game, and have struggled to keep clean sheets even when dominating possession. Their inability to manage injuries and make timely substitutions—highlighted by the Gomez incident—has cost them dearly. Even the attacking exploits of new signing Hugo Ekitike, who leads the team with eight league goals, have not been enough to offset their defensive shortcomings.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, climb to 30 points and continue to distance themselves from the relegation zone, though Iraola insists the fight is far from over. The Cherries have now scored in 83% of their league matches and have shown a knack for late drama, much to the delight of their supporters.

As the dust settles on another pulsating Premier League encounter, Liverpool must regroup quickly with tough fixtures against Newcastle and Manchester City looming. For Bournemouth, the night will live long in the memory—a testament to their resilience and the unpredictable magic of English football.