#5 Jurgen Klopp got his tactics and substitutions wrong
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Liverpool went ahead early in the second-half thanks to Divock Origi’s header. However, Coutinho was substituted immediately with Matip coming on as the Reds went three at the back. At that time, it looked like Klopp was testing a new system, but in the end, that tactical change ended up costing two points for the Reds.
The substitution made Liverpool too defensive and invited pressure on to a mentally weak defence. Instead of sending on Daniel Sturridge and trying to kill off the game, Liverpool’s decision to have Klavan on the pitch and allow Bournemouth to attack backfired as Josh King turned away from Klavan easily to score the second equaliser.
Klopp has been criticised for leaving it late to make the substitutions this season, and in this match, the early substitution did not work. Moreover, at no point did it look like Sturridge would be brought on and this tactic by Klopp to try a new system with that defence backfired.
Further, the result means Liverpool can still drop from third as Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United have at leat a game in hand. If Liverpool have to finish in the top 4, then they need to step up their performances and stop conceding goals.
