Darwin Nunez has been a goal machine this season with seven netted across various tournaments
Coming off the bench, Darwin Nunez showcased his firepower as Liverpool triumphed over Bournemouth, punching their ticket to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Nunez, the Uruguayan hitman, sliced his way in from the left flank and unleashed a 70th-minute screamer that curled with zip into the top-right corner, leaving Bournemouth goalkeeper Ionut Radu flailing.
Liverpool had initially seized the lead in the opening half, thanks to Cody Gakpo, who capitalized on a deflected Harvey Elliott volley to prod the ball into the net from point-blank range.
However, Bournemouth clawed their way back to parity, courtesy of Justin Kluivert’s maiden goal for the club since his summer transfer from Roma. The Dutch forward found himself unchecked at the far post, nodding in a corner from Alex Scott in the 64th minute.
Bournemouth went all guns blazing in the waning 15 minutes, with both David Brooks and Hamed Traore trying their luck. Alas, they couldn’t engineer another equalizer, leaving the Cherries licking their wounds.
This marks the third occasion in the past five years that Liverpool has advanced to the quarter-finals of this competition.
Bournemouth’s Eye on Premier League Survival
Bournemouth is still acclimatizing to the tactics of their new manager, Andoni Iraola, who stepped in to replace Gary O’Neil this past summer.
Their 2-1 weekend win over recently promoted Burnley was a breath of fresh air, catapulting them a single point clear of the relegation zone.
While a Carabao Cup run offers its own set of thrills, Bournemouth can’t let that sidetrack them from the critical mission of ensuring a third consecutive season in the top-flight.
There might be a long, grinding path ahead for the Cherries, but there were silver linings to be found in their face-off against Liverpool.
Despite Storm Ciaran creating a tempestuous backdrop at Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth stood their ground in the first half. Both teams fired off four shots on target, with Kluivert accounting for half of Bournemouth’s efforts.
Alex Scott, another of the club’s summer acquisitions, almost bent it like Beckham—err, almost bent a corner directly into the net, forcing Joe Gomez to make a goal-line clearance.
Darwin Nunez: The Man of the Moment
As the final whistle echoed around Vitality Stadium, chants of “Nunez, Nunez, Nunez” filled the air.
Last season, Nunez struggled to justify his £64 million valuation, scoring a not-so-whopping 15 goals in all competitions. However, this season he’s looking like a snug fit in that Liverpool jersey.
Jurgen Klopp shook up his starting lineup, retaining just three players from their 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest over the weekend. As a result, Nunez began the game on the bench. But once unleashed in the second half, it took him merely nine minutes to make an indelible impact, scoring for the third consecutive game.
Meanwhile, it was a low-key evening for Mohamed Salah, who managed just a single off-target header, despite being one of the three players to keep his spot in the starting eleven. Salah is currently the only Liverpool player who’s outscored Nunez this season.
Liverpool’s summer shake-up appears to be paying off; their win over Bournemouth extended their undefeated run to six games and they’ve suffered only one loss so far.
What are your thoughts on Bournemouth’s performance? Let us know.
Got a take on how Liverpool played? We’d love to hear your opinions.
Wednesday’s Carabao Cup roundup—reactions and more
Player of the Match: Darwin Nunez
Average rating: 8.80
Player Ratings for Bournemouth and Liverpool
- Brooks (Bournemouth): 5.35
- Solanke (Bournemouth): 5.35
- Scott (Bournemouth): 5.33
- Tavernier (Bournemouth): 5.31
- Kluivert (Bournemouth): 5.20
- Christie (Bournemouth): 5.12
- Moore (Bournemouth): 5.05
- Aarons (Bournemouth): 5.05
- Semenyo (Bournemouth): 4.99
- Mepham (Bournemouth): 4.96
- Radu (Bournemouth): 4.95
- A Smith (Bournemouth): 4.88
- Traorè (Bournemouth): 4.81
- Billing (Bournemouth): 4.79
- Zabarnyi (Bournemouth): 4.68
- Kerkez (Bournemouth): 4.68
Game Stats
Possession: Bournemouth 33% – Liverpool 67%
Total Shots: Bournemouth 16 – Liverpool 18
Shots on Target: Bournemouth 6 – Liverpool 7
Corners: Bournemouth 5 – Liverpool 7
Fouls: Bournemouth 13 – Liverpool 16
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Carabao Cup quarter-finals
What was the final score between Bournemouth and Liverpool in the Carabao Cup match?
The final score was 2-1 in favor of Liverpool.
Who scored the decisive goal for Liverpool?
Darwin Nunez scored the game-winning goal in the 70th minute.
How did Bournemouth manage to level the score before Nunez’s goal?
Justin Kluivert scored his first goal for Bournemouth, leveling the score in the 64th minute with a header off a corner from Alex Scott.
Who was named the Player of the Match?
Darwin Nunez was named the Player of the Match with an average rating of 8.80.
What does this win mean for Liverpool?
This win propels Liverpool into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. It’s the third time in the past five years that they’ve made it to this stage of the competition.
Are there any concerns for Bournemouth despite their performance?
While Bournemouth put up a gritty fight, their primary concern remains Premier League survival. They are just one point clear of the relegation zone.
Did Jurgen Klopp rotate his Liverpool squad for this match?
Yes, Klopp opted for a rotated starting 11, retaining only three players from their previous game against Nottingham Forest.
What was the state of the weather during the match?
The match took place in stormy conditions, with wind and rain swirling around the Vitality Stadium due to Storm Ciaran.
How many shots did each team have during the match?
Bournemouth had 16 shots, while Liverpool had 18 shots. Both teams had multiple shots on target; Bournemouth with 6 and Liverpool with 7.
How does this match impact Bournemouth’s focus for the season?
The match underscores Bournemouth’s need to focus on Premier League survival, despite the allure of a Carabao Cup run.
More about Carabao Cup quarter-finals
- Bournemouth vs Liverpool Full Match Highlights
- Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals Draw
- Darwin Nunez’s Season Stats
- Jurgen Klopp Discusses Squad Rotation
- Premier League Relegation Battle: Bournemouth’s Status
- Justin Kluivert’s First Goal for Bournemouth
- Liverpool’s Unbeaten Streak Continues
- Storm Ciaran Affects Carabao Cup Matches
- Bournemouth’s New Managerial Philosophy Under Andoni Iraola
- Player Ratings for Bournemouth vs Liverpool Match
8 comments
I gotta admit, Klopp’s squad rotation is workin like a charm. Who knew our bench was this deep? But Salah had an off day, didn’t he?
Nunez player of the match? no arguments there. but can we talk about how Scott nearly scored from a corner. inches away!
man, Darwin Nunez is on fire this season! The guy’s basically picking up from where Salah’s left off in some games. Absolute stunner of a goal!
Liverpool’s bench is lookin scary good. Klopp’s got options for days, and that’s a terrifying thought for the rest of us.
Third time in the quarter-finals in 5 years? Liverpool’s got their eyes set on this cup for sure. When was the last time we went all the way? Feels like ages.
Cody Gakpo also deserves a shoutout. Kid’s been consistent and that first goal set the tone for Liverpool.
As a Bournemouth fan, I’m gutted but also kinda proud? We held our own pretty well, especially Kluivert. But Premier league survival’s the real game for us now.
Weather was like a scene from a disaster movie lol. How they managed to play quality football is beyond me.