Slot: Liverpool ran out of energy in last-gasp loss to Bournemouth

BOURNEMOUTH, England — Arne Slot admitted Liverpool “lacked energy” in their 3-2 defeat to AFC Bournemouth and said they had only themselves to blame for dropping Premier League points.

The Reds came from two goals down at the Vitality Stadium before Amine Adli scored the winner in the 95th minute to seal all three points for the hosts.

– Weekly transfer window: Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City for Bundesliga prodigy

It means Slot’s side are now without a win in five league matches, having picked up just four points from the last 15 on offer.

Liverpool remain fourth – 14 points behind leaders Arsenal – but could end the weekend in eighth place.

“It’s frustrating because it’s always frustrating to concede a goal, but especially if you don’t have time to get it back,” said the Liverpool manager. “But I think it’s safe to say they could have gotten to 3-2 a little bit earlier. When we got to 2-2 we were still trying, but I think it’s safe to say some of our players lacked energy.

“I can’t even criticize them because two days ago we played away in Europe and we are the only team that played the Champions League on Wednesday and only have two days in between, another away game against one of the most intense teams in the league.

Slot made just one change to the lineup – Cody Gakpo replacing Hugo Ekitike – who recorded a 3-0 Champions League win at Marseille on Wednesday night.

Liverpool’s injury list includes defenders Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni as well as attackers Alexander Isak and Federico Chiesa.

“As you probably see, I’ve mostly played against the same players because of the people we have available,” Slot added.

“So what shouldn’t have happened if you were to win in the end, because then it’s more difficult. That’s what you saw in the last 10 minutes because for the rest we dominated the game.”

Liverpool conceded two goals in the space of seven minutes in the first half, during which they also lost defender Joe Gomez to injury.

Slot’s team was temporarily reduced to 10 men when Álex Jiménez won Bournemouth’s second goal seven minutes later with substitute Wataru Endo still waiting to replace the injured Gomez, who collided with goalkeeper Alisson Becker as he attempted to block the opening goal.

Asked if the period was responsible for the result, Slot replied: “There were only seven minutes where I wouldn’t even say we struggled, but where the other team was also part of the game, and in those seven minutes we conceded two.

“Of course, the second one was when we were down to 10 men because after the first goal Joe Gomez had to leave with an injury. He wanted to try. He thought he could, but he couldn’t.

“And maybe that sums up our season. It’s something different every time. It’s something special every time that we concede. But we concede, and the only ones to blame are ourselves.”

PA contributed to this report.