Liverpool’s fluctuations in performance have never been more evident.

BOURNEMOUTH, England — If there were a Premier League award for self-sabotage, it would undoubtedly bear Liverpool’s name. Repeatedly this season, Arne Slot’s team has been responsible for their own misfortunes in the top tier, and this was evident once more on Saturday as they fell to a late 3-2 defeat against AFC Bournemouth.

The positive momentum gained from the uplifting UEFA Champions League 3-0 victory over Marseille earlier in the week was washed away by the rain on the south coast, as Amine Adli’s 95th-minute goal clinched all three points for the home side at the Vitality Stadium.

Virgil van Dijk led the protests from Liverpool as those in red-and-black celebrated, but there was no late intervention from VAR, and once again, Slot’s squad could only blame themselves.

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When Dominik Szoboszlai struck a remarkable free kick in the 80th minute to equalize for Liverpool, it seemed like the momentum was finally shifting in favor of the visitors. However, with neither side willing to settle for a draw, opportunities arose at both ends before Adli nudged the ball past goalkeeper Alisson Becker with one of the final touches of the match.

The Morocco international’s goal ended Liverpool’s unconvincing 13-game unbeaten streak and increased the pressure on head coach Slot. With only four points earned from the last 15 available, the Reds have lost further ground in the battle for Champions League qualification. They could drop to eighth in the standings if all their competitors win their respective matches on Sunday afternoon.

Slot’s team is still in search of their first league victory in 2026 and has managed just two points from losing positions this season. In contrast, they had come from behind to secure 23 points by the end of the previous campaign, having accumulated 29 points from losing situations in 2023-24.

In many respects, Liverpool’s ongoing struggles were epitomized by a challenging seven-minute period in the first half, during which they conceded two goals and lost defender Joe Gomez to injury. Bournemouth’s first goal came against the run of play after a misplayed clearance by Van Dijk fell to Alex Scott, who set up Evanilson to score from close range.

Slot later defended his captain by attributing the high winds inside the stadium as a factor for his mistake, although this is not the first instance this season where an individual error has cost Liverpool significantly. The visitors’ frustration was heightened when a collision between Alisson and Gomez while attempting to clear the ball resulted in Gomez being forced off the field with an injury.

Inexplicably, Liverpool did not kick the ball out of play to allow for a substitution to be made — despite Slot’s vigorous protests from the sidelines — and by the time makeshift center back Wataru Endo entered the match in the 33rd minute, they were already 2-0 down due to a well-placed shot from Álex Jiménez.

“There has only been seven minutes where I wouldn’t even say we were struggling, but where the other team was part of the game as well and in those seven minutes we conceded two,” Slot stated in his post-match press conference.

“Of course, the second one was when we were down to 10 because of the first goal.

“Joe Gomez had to go off with an injury. He wanted to try. He thought he could, but then he couldn’t. And maybe that sums up our season. It’s every time something else. It’s every time something special happens that we concede. But we concede and the only ones to blame are ourselves.”

Perhaps the most frustrating element of Saturday’s loss for Slot will be that his team managed to recover from that first-half setback to level the score, with Van Dijk narrowing the gap with a well-executed header from a corner just before halftime.

Slot has frequently lamented his team’s inefficiency from set pieces this season, with Van Dijk’s goal marking just the second time Liverpool has scored from a corner out of 118 attempts in the Premier League. Szoboszlai’s second-half goal also stemmed from a dead-ball situation, although the Reds’ set-piece record took another hit when Adli’s winner was scored from a long throw.

Only Bournemouth (17) has conceded more goals from set pieces than Liverpool (14) this season. Adli’s goal was also the fifth that the Reds have allowed after the 90th minute in the top flight this term, with all of those goals occurring in one-goal defeats or draws.

“Conceding a goal is always frustrating, but especially when there is no time left to respond,” Slot remarked.

“But I think it’s fair to say that [Bournemouth] could have scored the 3-2 a bit earlier. What I mean by that is, I think after we scored the 2-2, we were still trying, but it’s fair to say that a few of our players ran out of energy, and I cannot even criticize them for that because two days ago we had to play an away game in Europe.

“We are the only team that played Champions League that had two days in between this time after an away game, another away game against one of the most intense teams in the league. And I mainly, as you probably see, play the same players because of the players we have available.”

Slot is correct to emphasize the limited options he currently has. Gomez’s injury leaves Liverpool with only two fit senior center backs, one of whom — Ibrahima Konaté — is currently on compassionate leave following the passing of his father.

Striker Hugo Ekitike was placed on the bench against Bournemouth to manage his minutes, as Slot aims to avoid overworking his only senior center forward while Alexander Isak continues his recovery from a broken leg. Both Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez also had to be substituted on Saturday to maintain their fitness.

With so few choices available and matches coming thick and fast, it appears that Liverpool is taking a significant risk if they choose not to strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes on Feb. 2.

That Andy Robertson was required to play 45 minutes at left back following Kerkez’s exit also suggests it would be a gamble to allow him to leave for Tottenham Hotspur this month.

In various ways, Liverpool continue to be a fragile entity. The physical and mental resilience that supported their title victory last season seems to have abandoned them this term, and there has been little indication that a turnaround is imminent, with promising performances too frequently overshadowed by sluggish, error-prone displays.

At the final whistle on Saturday, Slot and his players appeared dejected as they left the pitch, drenched to the skin. Indeed, when it rains for Liverpool this season, it pours.