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Liverpool followed up their historic 7-0 win over Manchester United with a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth — classic Liverpool — while Borussia Dortmund’s title hopes took a hit and Kai Havertz came up big for a Chelsea side in need of heroes.
ESPN correspondents Mark Ogden, Rob Dawson, Julien Laurens, Sam Marsden, Mike Wise and James Tyler break down the most interesting and important stuff you need to know about the weekend.
Talking points
Liverpool’s failings emerge again
Liverpool’s inconsistency is threatening to deny Jurgen Klopp’s team a top-four finish in the Premier League. Or, to be more precise, their consistency in dropping points against struggling opponents is the reason they are now six points adrift of fourth spot.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth — just six days after their 7-0 rout of Manchester United — was the second time this season that Liverpool have lost to a team that started the day at the bottom of the table. You could even argue that it was the third instance, with United starting Matchday 3 as the bottom team, before moving up a spot on goal difference because of other results before kick-off, when beating Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford in August.
– Liverpool ratings: Salah 3/10 after missed penalty
Still, even if that early defeat against United is discounted, Liverpool have now dropped 15 points in games against teams threatened with relegation this season. They have failed to beat Crystal Palace in two fixtures, lost at home to Leeds United and were beaten at Nottingham Forest, Wolves and now Bournemouth — a team they hammered 9-0 at Anfield earlier this season.
Had Liverpool taken just half of the 15 points they have dropped against the strugglers, they would now be in the top four, with a game in hand over fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Their results against teams fighting a relegation battle will be a concern to Klopp because his side remains one of the best in the country, as showcased in the win against United. But with games…
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