Liverpool booked their place in Sunday’s FA Cup Fifth Round draw after a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Championship side AFC Bournemouth.
Goals either side of half time from Victor Moses and Daniel Sturridge were enough to seal the seven-time FA Cup winners’ progress, but Eddie Howe’s men left the Goldsands Stadium to a standing ovation and their heads held high after a performance that, on another day, may have earned them a lot more.
Brendan Rodgers paid Bournemouth and the competition the respect he felt both deserved in his squad selection. Despite sitting 32 places above the Cherries, the Liverpool boss named a formidable starting line-up and included first-team stalwarts Sturridge, Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson.
AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Fourth Round Proper
12.45pm, Saturday 25 January
Goldsands Stadium
Winners receive £90000
Live on ITV
On a glorious mid-winter afternoon on the south coast, Bournemouth began the two sides’ first meeting in 46 years much the brighter, and forced their illustrious visitors onto the back foot from the off.
Two corners in the opening 90 seconds - followed by a neat exchange in midfield and a dangerous cross from the left that allowed Andrew Surman to ghost in and win a header at the near post, only to see his effort go inches over the frame of the goal. Nonetheless, it was a bright start for the hosts.
Despite a 5am departure time for many of the 2,300 Liverpool fans packed into the South Stand, the travelling support were in fine voice – matched by their equally vociferous hosts at the opposite end – a pulsating Cup encounter, and atmosphere developed.
Bournemouth continued to enjoy the lions’ share of possession and were much the better team for most of the opening exchanges.
Indeed, 25 minutes had passed before Liverpool mustered an attempt at goal. Harry Arter brought down Suarez on the edge of the box. Gerrard and Suarez hovered over the dead ball as the Bournemouth wall stood nervously.
But despite the England captain firing just over Lee Camp’s goal, it proved to be the injection of energy the visitors needed and seconds later they were ahead – albeit against the run of play.
Victor Moses celebrates the opening goal for Liverpool.
Moses found himself in space wide on the left and the man on loan from Chelsea dropped his shoulder, shifted his weight and fired an effort low to the unsighted Camp’s right. It was unfortunate for the hosts and the on-pitch celebrations were muted, and verged on bashful.
Despite finding themselves undeservedly behind, Howe’s side refused to allow Moses’ goal to take the wind out of their sails and continued to play with confidence and composure.
As half-time approached Bournemouth continued to press. Surman had a golden opportunity to level the tie on 35 minutes as he met left-back Charlie Daniels’ low cross – but the man on loan from Norwich saw his goalbound effort well blocked by Kolo Toure.
From the resulting Surman corner, Tommy Elphick rose above everyone else but the captain’s towering header flew just over.
Liverpool had chances of their own, however, and a rare lapse of concentration at the back almost allowed them in. Suarez dispossessed Daniels in his own box and beat two men before squaring to Jordan Henderson – but leaning back, the England midfielder fired high over Camp’s goal.
As the second period got under way, the game followed a similar pattern to that of the first. Bournemouth pressed, hurried and harried their guests – and Liverpool continued to threaten on the break.
And indeed, the visitors breached the Cherries’ defence in similar circumstances – against the run of play.
Martin Kelly and Charlie Daniels contest a 50-50 challenge.
As Bournemouth pressed for an equaliser, Sturridge, unusually quiet throughout the first hour of play, latched on to a delightful ball from Luis Suarez and the England striker confidently slotted home under the onrushing Camp.
The goal seemed to spark Sturridge into action. First, set through by a fine diagonal pass from Henderson, the striker attempted to loop the ball over Camp only to see his effort bounce off the top of the bar and harmlessly behind.
Moments later, the 24-year-old embarked on a mazy run from the right and beat three tiring Bournemouth defenders, but sliced his left-foot effort well wide.
A third would have been harsh on the tiring hosts, though, and they managed to see out the remaining stages without allowing Liverpool to increase their lead and the game petered out.
Coutinho and O'Kane compete at the Goldsands Stadium.
It was job done for Liverpool, but both sides were warmly applauded off the field by all four corners of the ground – and rightly so. A fine Cup tie.
AFC Bournemouth: Camp, Francis, Pugh (Rantie, 72) Ritchie (Fraser, 72) Grabban, Ward, Elphick (C), Daniels, Arter, (Pitman, 78) O’Kane, Surman
Substitutes not used: Allsop, Cook, Harte, MacDonald
Manager: Eddie Howe
Goals: N/A
Liverpool: Jones, Toure, Suarez, Gerrard (C), Coutinho (Alberto, 84) Moses (Sterling, 84), Henderson, Sturridge, Cissokho, Kelly (Flanagan, 72) Skrtel.
Substitutes not used: Mignolet, Aspas, Ibe, Sama
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Goals: Moses (25), Sturridge (61)
Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 11,475
