There were times on the south coast when the squall of Storm Ciaran made conditions so freakishly unpredictable that Liverpool’s Carabao Cup campaign seemed as if it might become collateral damage.
Jurgen Klopp’s team had gone ahead in the first half through a Cody Gakpo goal but came out after the interval to face a gale, blowing straight down the centre of the pitch towards their goal.
Each one of Bournemouth’s in-swinging corners looked as if they might be gathered by a gust and blown straight into the net. Attempted clearances by the visitors swirled high into the sky and back from whence they came in comical fashion.
Justin Kluivert levelled with his first Bournemouth goal, and the home side pushed on, wind-assisted, looking capable and confident of scoring again when Darwin Nunez stepped forward with a wonderful goal in defiance of the prevailing wind.
Darwin Nunez scored a brilliant goal to put Liverpool back ahead of Bournemouth
The Uruguayan cut in from the left flank and curled a powerful effort into the net
Nunez came off the bench and made a real impact for Jurgen Klopp’s side
Klopp appeared delighted with the win as his side advanced to the quarter finals
Nunez was forced wide to the left as he miscontrolled a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold but the change of angle helped as he cut back inside and produced a ferocious strike that curled, dipped and deceived goalkeeper Andrei Radu.
There were anxious moments to survive at the other end before their passage was secured but it would prove enough to sweep the Merseysiders into the last eight of a competition they won two years ago.
Liverpool, nine times winners of this competition, made eight changes to team that beat Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Klopp calculated his risks and stacked his bench with first-team regulars and he would need them.
There was a start in central defence for England U21 international Jarell Quansah in central defence and Mo Salah led the team out, playing at centre forward, flanked by Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola stuck closely to the team from his first Premier League win against Burnley, on Saturday, changing only the two full backs and the home side made a positive start.
Kluivert, playing wide on the left, forced the first save of the game from Kelleher, who made an even better save, low from the same player moments later, unaware the flag had gone up for offside.
Ryan Christie sliced a good chance wide set up by Antoine Semenyo and Kluivert produced an exquisite touch as he set up Milos Kerkez on the charge forward from left back. Kerkez, however, fired straight at Kelleher.
These were early warnings for Liverpool on a night when controlled possession football was difficult in the filthy conditions, and the visitors settled into a better rhythm as the first half progressed.
As they did, they became more fluid, rotating positions and Szoboszlai became increasingly influential. The Hungary midfielder created a wonderful for chance for Harvey Elliott, who could not find a way past goalkeeper Andrei Radu as he met the pass first time, with his left foot.
Cody Gakpo scored the opening goal of the game from close range after a scramble
Justin Kluivert had put Bournemouth on level terms with a header at the back post
It was tricky with the rain and swirling wind and Kluivert benefited with an easy finish
Szoboszlai fizzed low drives across goal and wide, either side of the Gakpo’s goal in the 31st minute.
Bournemouth failed to clear a corner and Elliott fired a low shot back into the crowd, which Gakpo flicked towards goal. Radu made a block but the rebound fell once again for the Dutch forward and this time he took his chance.
It was his fourth goal in his last seven appearances and extended Liverpool’s scoring run to 25 games. The last time Klopp’s team failed to find the net was against Chelsea in April.
Conditions worsened during the interval. Bournemouth played with a stiffening wind behind them in the second half and were quickly on top of Liverpool.
Liverpool took the lead in the first half and deserved to having dominated the play
Alex Scott flashed one effort over from 20 yards, Dominic Solanke blasted another into the side netting and Joe Gomez had to react quickly to prevent a corner swerving straight in at the back post.
Salah headed wide the chance to give his team a two-goal lead before Liverpool were squeezed back again.
First Semenyo squandered a glorious chance to level soon after Klopp made a triple change, slicing wide when unmarked, then Marcus Tavernier came on for Bournemouth and forced a save from Kelleher.
The pressure told when Kluivert appeared at the back post to nod in another dangerous corner delivered by Scott. Iraola was booked as he became increasingly agitated but Nunez settled the tie and settled the storm.
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