And the doubts creep back. This was the latest attempt by Liverpool to prove they could win games they were expected to albeit without Sadio Mané, their leading goalscorer who began the day by posting a picture of himself in the unpromising position: on the couch, wearing a knee brace.

Jürgen Klopp confirmed before kick-off that at the moment it looks as though Mané will be incapable of playing “one more game this season,” and so, it was imperative that Liverpool won this one – giving them the confidence that they might just about be ok without him. Joshua King’s equaliser, which arrived four minutes from the end arrived like a stab through in the side, reminding of tender parts.

It is understandable why Mané’s absence had caused so much concern. The Senegalese did not play when Liverpool lost at Burnley in August. He was taken off when Liverpool were 3-1 up at Bournemouth in December – which transpired to be their second defeat of the season. In the month he was away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool lost four in seven games, were knocked out of both domestic cup and saw their hopes of securing a title diminish.

Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Alisson - 7 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Alisson during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. PHIL NOBLE REUTERS Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings James Milner - 8 epa07355863 Liverpool's James Milner (L) in action with Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser (R) during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth held at the Anfield in Liverpool, Britain, 09 February 2019. EPA/PETER POWELL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications PETER POWELL EPA Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Joel Matip - 8 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Joel Matip in action with Bournemouth's Joshua King Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Virgil van Dijk - 7 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) Rui Vieira AP Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Andrew Robertson - 8 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Andrew Robertson during the match REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. PHIL NOBLE REUTERS Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Georginio Wijnaldum - 8 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Alex Livesey Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Fabinho - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with teammate Fabinho during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Alex Livesey Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Naby Keita - 7 Liverpool's Guinean midfielder Naby Keita (L) vies with Bournemouth's English midfielder Dan Gosling (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Mohamed Salah - 8 Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (C) celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Roberto Firmino - 8 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino in action with Bournemouth's Jefferson Lerma Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Sadio Mane - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Sadio Mane of Liverpool scores the opening goal and celebrates during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) John Powell Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Artur Boruc - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Bournemouth's Artur Boruc reacts after conceding their second goal scored by Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Adam Smith - 6 Bournemouth's English defender Adam Smith prepares to take a throw-in during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Steve Cook - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Sadio Mane in action with Bournemouth's Steve Cook Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Nathan Ake - 6 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool scores his team's second goal under pressure from Nathan Ake of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Alex Livesey Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Diego Rico - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUIN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool with Diego Rico of Bournmouth during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Bournemouth at Anfield Stadium on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool , United Kingdom. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) John Powell Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Jordon Ibe - 5 Bournemouth's Jordon Ibe, left, is challenged by Liverpool's Andrew Robertson during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) Rui Vieira AP Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Dan Gosling - 6 epa07355913 Bournemouth's Dan Gosling (L) in action with Liverpool's Naby Keita (R) during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth held at the Anfield in Liverpool, Britain, 09 February 2019. EPA/PETER POWELL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications PETER POWELL EPA Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Jefferson Lerma - 6 Bournemouth's Colombian midfielder Jefferson Lerma has an unsuccessful shot during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Andrew Surman - 6 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool battles for possession with Andrew Surman of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Alex Livesey Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Ryan Fraser - 7 Bournemouth's Scottish midfielder Ryan Fraser reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Josh King - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Bournemouth's Joshua King in action with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters

Liverpool missed him here as well. His replacement Divock Origi might have scored but he simply does not pose the same threat. When the visitors took an early lead, indeed, the signs were not good. Bournemouth, of course, had been beneficiaries of sub-standard Liverpool goalkeeping earlier in the season, which allowed them to make an improbable full-recovery. This time, their opening goal was a gift. There had been several misplaced Liverpool passes before Benik Afobe became the first Bournemouth player to score at Anfield since 1927 but none were quite as under-cooked as Georginio Wijnaldum’s, who’s was directed at Simon Mignolet but fell woefully short. Afobe was sniffing around and in front of the Kop, he flicked past the Liverpool goalkeeper.

The game was six minutes old. Wijnaldum has been a good signing so far for Liverpool but this was a real character test – how would he react? How would Liverpool react? In Afobe and King, Eddie Howe was bold enough to start with two players in attack, so surely Liverpool would have the space in midfield to create openings.

Afobe gave the Cherries the lead at Anfield (Getty)

Philippe Coutinho’s touch, though, was off. Emre Can was taking too many touches. Klopp was unhappy with the movement of Origi. Bournemouth were working very hard to narrow the angles and Harry Arter, a pest of the worst kind. King’s pace and hunger to hunt down Liverpool’s defenders was causing Ragnar Klavan problems particularly and he nearly extended Bournemouth’s advantage. This came after Marc Pugh skidded a volley across Mignolet’s six-yard box, beating Mignolet but not the post.

Because Bournemouth have been a Premier League team for two seasons it is easy to forget their defence began their careers at the club in League Two. When opponents like Roberto Firmino and Coutinho find their groove, it is too much for them and it proved to be the case here, with the pair combining to allow Coutinho to score his 29th Premier League goal, meaning he joins Juninho as the most successful Brazilian scorer in English football history.

Coutinho's goal pulled Liverpool back level (Getty)

Liverpool’s equaliser came a few minutes before the break, just as it did against Burnley on this ground three weeks ago. Liverpool set a blistering pace in the second half and would have been ahead quickly had it not been for the finger-tips of Artur Boruc who nudged Nathaniel Clyne’s Josimar style shot from the corner of the eighteen-yard box onto the crossbar.

Liverpool kept coming at Bournemouth. It was clear that Clyne had been instructed by Klopp to play further forward and this gave Liverpool greater width. The genesis of Liverpool’s lead, though, came from the other side of the pitch, with Wijnaldum redeeming himself following his earlier mistake by turning beautifully past Jack Wilshere and supplying a cross for Origi to head in.

Klopp had said that he would think with more tactical conservatism in order to see Liverpool into the Champions League and this was evident when he withdrew Coutinho and introduced Joel Matip – the centre-back who had not started the game because of a niggling back injury. With that, Liverpool’s defence became a three. Klopp had surrendered an advantage better than this to Bournemouth already this season. Liverpool would not lose this time. But drop points, they did.

Divock Origi thought he had given Liverpool a vital win (Getty)

Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Can, Lucas, Wijnaldum; Firmino, Origi, Coutinho (Matip 65). Subs not used: Karius, Sturridge, Grujic, Moreno, Woodburn, Alexander-Arnold.