Liverpool vs Bournemouth match report: Jurgen Klopp gets first win as youngsters impress in League Cup

Months after signing his first professional contract with Liverpool, a decision was taken by senior officials at the club’s academy to rehouse Cameron Brannagan in accommodation with better connections to the outside world. The Salford-born Manchester United supporter was originally in digs with a bad phone signal, a place that struggled for internet access and he missed parents in Boothstown.

Connor Randall is 20-years-old. It was not until he approached his 16th birthday that it was deemed by then youth coach Rodolfo Borrell that he should convert from goalscoring central midfield to right-back because his power and speed would be better suited to the position. Borrell had also recognised the teenager’s tendency to pass in straight lines, meaning the team-mate in space was not always found.

The respective rises to this night, where both made their full Liverpool debuts, is a mark of determination and development as well as circumstance.

open image in gallery

Brannagan and Randall had trained so well at Melwood over the past few weeks that the Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp, felt he knew to whom he could turn when numbers in his squad were low. Randall’s senior experience amounted to one minute as a substitute on loan at Shrewsbury Town last season while together with Joao Carlos Teixeira – another Anfield debutant – Brannagan’s and the Portuguese’s Liverpool careers amounted to a mere 18 minutes.

Despite Klopp drawing each of his first three games in charge of Liverpool, his confidence in the trio was rewarded with a first victory for the German at the fourth attempt against equally depleted opposition clearly lacking confidence.

Nathaniel Clyne’s first-half goal means Liverpool are in the quarter-finals of the League Cup. Having lifted just one trophy in the last nine years – the most barren period of time the club has experienced in more than half a century – Klopp may soon decide this is a competition that is worth prioritising.

Brannagan’s technical prowess had once alerted Barcelona to his abilities, and Liverpool worked hard to keep him, with coaches believing he would make the next step providing he started to imprint his personality on youth games by consistently becoming the best player on the pitch.

He had chosen Liverpool over Manchester United, Manchester City and Everton in 2007 because Steve Heighway, the former academy director, persuaded his family that it was the best place for him, having originally been spotted at a satellite centre in Warrington.

While the selection of Randall’s club was rather more straightforward, having been raised by a Liverpool obsessed family in Melling, Teixeira’s path, from the night his wizardry helped dismantle a Liverpool under-19s team in this stadium while playing for Sporting Lisbon in the now defunct NextGen Series, has been less than smooth.

Liverpool spent nearly £1m to take him from Portugal four years ago but first-team opportunities were not forthcoming under Brendan Rodgers following the exit from the academy of the person that encouraged his recruitment in the first place, Frank McParland.

Teixeira’s loan at Brighton & Hove Albion last season was proving to be a successful experience until he broke his leg in April. Rodgers did not register him for Liverpool’s Europa League squad but Klopp has clearly been impressed by his talent and based on his effort for Liverpool’s opener here, it is easy to understand why.

Roberto Firmino was beginning to illustrate why Liverpool had spent so much money in recruiting him from Hoffenheim in the summer by the time he spotted Teixeira’s darting run across Bournemouth’s defence.

From there, the attacking midfielder had lots to do and his response was to back-heel a shot that defeated Adam Federici but not Adam Smith, whose presence on the line prevented a goal. Fortunately for Liverpool, Clyne – selected at left-back – was well placed to dispatch the rebound.

While Brannagan impressed largely because he was always looking to make a forward pass and Randall met the test posed by Marc Pugh reasonably enough, Liverpool did not have it all their own way in the first half.

Adam Bogdan, chosen because Klopp decided to give Simon Mignolet a rest, was forced into three saves, each one of them impressive: firstly from Pugh, who had tricked Dejan Lovren into falling over, then twice from Junior Stanislas, whose header and free-kick would have resulted in goals had Bogdan not been concentrating fully.

Brannagan lasted until 25 minutes remained, when Lucas replaced him, as Klopp chose to stiffen the central area of his team that was looking secure already by then.

Liverpool were a lot better after half-time and got closer than they have in any of the previous three games to meeting the standard that Klopp expects.

Randall emerged as one of Liverpool’s stand-out performers, impressing with his aggression and willingness to join in the attack. Klopp certainly appreciated his fortitude, ushering him over towards his technical area following one surging run to shake his hand.

Teixeira, meanwhile, also remained and his self-belief was demonstrated when he took responsibility of a free-kick in front of the Kop that forced Federici into a save at full-stretch.

It was perhaps the presence of Firmino, however, that was the most significant. When he was substituted with five minutes to go, the stadium rose to applaud him.

Maybe Anfield has a new hero. Maybe, even, it has more than one.

Man of the match Firmino.

Match rating 6/10.

Referee M Jones (Cheshire).

Attendance 41,948.