Hugo Ekitike was Liverpool’s best player by a country mile, with the Frenchman bagging himself both a goal and an assist.

Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

However, even though the Frenchman and the rest of Arne Slot’s attack were in top form, most other areas of the team were far from impressive.

'Ekitike is instant Anfield hero but defence brutally exposed'	Your ultimate club-by-club guide to the new Premier League season: Daily Mail Sport predicts where EVERY team will finish	Jamie Carragher reveals which team he believes will challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title this season

And, while speaking on BBC Radio Five Live in quotes summarised by BBC Sport, Stephen Warnock believes that the Reds had their “vulnerabilities” exposed during the game.

They put Liverpool on the ropes for large parts of this game and showed their vulnerabilities,” he said.

MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES

“They are susceptible on the counter-attack.

“When Federico Chiesa got that goal, the Anfield crowd lifted the team; they had to, then Mohamed Salah wrapped it up.

“Not the most impressive performance tonight from Liverpool, good in patches, but they will have to be better to retain their title.”

As mentioned, both Frimpong and Kerkez were miles off the pace against Andoni Iraola’s men, with Jamie Carragher even dubbing the latter of the two as an “aggressive” player.

Indeed, there have been many changes to Liverpool’s first-team squad this summer, but, judging from their first two games of the season, it feels like the Reds need to step things up a gear or two.

One of the main problems the Reds faced against Bournemouth was that they were exposed to counter-attacks due to how high their full-backs bombed up the pitch.



Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Even though both may have the pace to make it back in time, it certainly wouldn’t hurt for them to hold off on their attacking runs a tad so that they’re in a better position if they’re needed in defence.