Eddie Howe: Bournemouth have learned lessons from Liverpool loss
Saturday 14 April 2018 21:12, UK
Eddie Howe said Bournemouth will take "valuable" lessons from their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.
Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino scored as Liverpool ran out comfortable winners at Anfield.
Bournemouth did not threaten until late in the game when they were 2-0 down, and Howe said: "We've come up against a team that without doubt can win the Champions League, but these games are always valuable for our learning as a team.
"Only in the latter stages did we come into the game with the ball.
"We rode our luck at times and were pleased it was 1-0 at half-time. The second half we improved greatly and were well in the game - we created chances to make the game interesting.
"We were passive in the first period and too deep in our defensive line - their front three are outstanding players and we found it a challenge to keep them at bay."
Howe also insisted he does not consider his side to be safe from relegation, even though they are 10 points from the bottom three with four games left to play.
"Everything is to play for as I've said all along, we're in a relegation battle until we're safe. The players are aware and there will be no let up from our side with a massive game coming up [against Manchester United on Wednesday]."
Bournemouth's only chances at Anfield came late on as Dan Gosling shot at Loris Karius and then Callum Wilson dragged a shot wide.
But Howe singled out two other players for praise.
He said: "Nathan Ake and Steve Cook had a really good mentality and attitude against strong opposition. In tough situations against very, very good players they did well in their one v one duels. Nathan can consider himself really unlucky to be on the end of that scoreline, both players did well."
