Liverpool have secured a second Premier League win in a row after narrowly edging Bournemouth 1-0 in Monday's meeting at Anfield thanks to Christian Benteke's first-half strike.
The visitors had the ball in the back of the Reds' net after just five minutes played, but referee Craig Pawson disallowed the goal after claiming that Tommy Elphick, who headed home, had fouled Dejan Lovren in the build-up.
Liverpool continued to be under the cosh as Bournemouth pushed forward time and time again, Josh King connecting with a ball from a set piece on the quarter-hour mark and heading over the bar.
The home side slowly worked their way back into the game and came close in the 25th minute as Benteke snuffed out Matt Ritchie's miscued ball and fired over from 20 yards.
Just two minutes later Liverpool drew first blood, with Jordan Henderson's cross from the left wing flashing past Philippe Coutinho and into the path of Benteke, who duly poked the ball home from close range.
The Reds could have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time, but Coutinho dragged his left-footed effort wide of the Cherries' post.
Ritchie was bright for the visitors after the restart as he weighed in with two chances in quick succession, but Liverpool countered through James Milner, who scooped a shot wide in the 54th minute.
The Cherries then came within a whisker of drawing level when, on the hour, Ritchie came off the right flank to power a ferocious effort on goal, but despite beating Simon Mignolet, the ball cannoned off the left-hand post and out of danger.
Eunan O'Kane was next to try his luck for Bournemouth with a drive that flew into the side netting, though the opposition had a good chance to double their lead when Coutinho's shot was frantically charged down by Charlie Daniels.
The pendulum continued to swing as both sides pushed forward in a last-ditch bid to get the ball into the back of the opposition net, but ultimately the game finished with Liverpool claiming all three points despite Benteke being denied a late second by the crossbar.
Giuseppe Labellarte
