THE NOTEBOOK: David Brooks receives rousing reception on his return to squad after cancer treatment and Adam Smith ties Bournemouth record… while Cherries boss Gary O’Neil is indebted to Liverpool
- Brooks named in matchday squad for first time since cancer treatment
- Smith made his 168th Premier League appearances for Bournemouth
- O’Neil was up against the club where he began his coaching career
Liverpool were brought back down to earth as they slipped to defeat at relegation-threatened Bournemouth just six days on from their historic victory over Manchester United.
Jurgen Klopp’s side humiliated their fierce rivals with a 7-0 win at Anfield last Sunday but Philip Billing’s sixth goal of the season was enough for the Cherries to secure a 1-0 victory to move off the foot of the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah shanked a second-half penalty wide to sum up a poor display on a wet and windy south-coast afternoon, with Liverpool missing out on a chance to break into the top four ahead of the second leg of their Champions League tie with Real Madrid.
Bournemouth had been two goals up at league leaders Arsenal last week only to succumb to a stoppage-time winner but their response here was admirable.
Sportsmail’s DAN BENNETT takes a look at some of the things you may have missed.
David Brooks named in Bournemouth matchday squad for first time since cancer treatment
Brooks makes emotional return
David Brooks was named in a matchday squad for the first time since beating cancer.
The 25-year-old was last named in a Bournemouth squad 525 days ago, having been diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021.
He has been working towards a return since completing his treatment last summer, when he announced that he was cancer free.
The home fans chanted his name before and during the game, and he received a rousing applause when his name was announced among the substitutes ahead of kick-off.
Smith ties Cook’s record
The game saw defender Adam Smith tie former team-mate Steve Cook’s club record 168 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth.
Smith has been with the club since 2014, playing five consecutive years of Premier League football before they were relegated to the Championship in 2020.
But Smith has again proven to be a key player for the Cherries in the top flight, this his 25th appearance in the league this season under boss Gary O’Neil.
Trent’s frustrations
Much has been made of England rugby head coach Steve Borthwick’s decision to drop Owen Farrell, whose long-distance kicking has been a staple of the England side for many years Trent Alexander-Arnold was perhaps auditioning for the role himself when he showed his frustration at scuffing a first-half volley into the advertising boards by kicking the ball clear of the Steve Fletcher stand behind the goal on the rebound.
It summed up a pretty miserable afternoon for the full-back who, while threatening down the right in the first half, was hooked off just after the hour mark for James Milner having struggled to convince defensively.
Staying in front
Bournemouth’s win bucked some unwelcome trends for Gary O’Neil’s side this season.
Heading into the game, only Leicester had dropped more points from winning positions than the Cherries this season, who gave up a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Arsenal last week.
Liverpool spurned plenty of chances to score but O’Neil will be delighted to see his team avoid the repeat of a situation which has occurred far too many times for his team.
Bournemouth also went into the clash having lost all 14 games to the sides that were currently in the top half of the table. The home fans sang “we are staying up” after the full-time whistle and this will no doubt be a confidence booster in their fight against relegation.
O’Neil debt to Reds
Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp before kick-off
Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil was up against the club where he began his coaching career.
After retiring as a player, O’Neil spent six months at Anfield as assistant manager to Liverpool Under 23s boss Barry Lewtas before he left to become a coach at Bournemouth under Jonathan Woodgate.
O’Neil would stay at the club under Scott Parker before taking over the top job on an initial temporary basis after he was sacked, which was then made permanent in November last year.
‘I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, it was a great platform for me to learn and grow and I’m looking forward to catching up with some familiar faces today,’ O’Neil said in the club programme.
Source: Daily Mail