Darwin Nunez wonder strike sends Liverpool into Carabao Cup last eight
Bournemouth 1 Liverpool 2
Liverpool issued another warning to their rivals that they are once again ready to challenge for silverware with a victory over fellow Premier League side AFC Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup thanks to substitute Darwin Nunez’s wonder strike.
It speaks to the job Jurgen Klopp has done rebuilding his squad after several significant exits over the past two seasons that he can make eight changes from Sunday’s 3-0 hammering of Nottingham Forest at Anfield and still come away with a deserved victory.
Mo Salah is the only one remaining of that formidable front three with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane which won the Premier League title, but the depth Klopp possesses in those attacking areas is perhaps greater than he had back then.
And Klopp had one of his newer additions to the squad to thank for taking the lead. Cody Gakpo, who joined the club in January this year, has been part of a rotating forward line so far this season with many of his minutes coming off the bench, but showed fantastic alertness to prod in from close range after Andrei Radu had kept out Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike from distance.
Bournemouth did not make it easy for the Reds, however. Andoni Iraola’s side created plenty of opportunities but lacked the finishing touch, that was before the lively Justin Kluivert headed in while completely unmarked at the back post from Alex Scott’s corner to put his side level on 64 minutes.
It came after a good spell of pressure from the home side which had seen Ireland’s Caoimhin Kelleher tip over from substitute James Tavernier moments earlier.
The talent Liverpool possess right throughout their squad was demonstrated further by Klopp’s substitutions – bringing on the triplet of Trent
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