By the hour mark, three of Liverpool‘s starting back four were off the pitch with Gomez injured, while Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong were taken off to protect their fitness.
“I think it’s safe to say a few players of ours ran out of energy,” said Slot. “I cannot even criticise them for that because two days ago we had to play an away game in Europe.
“We are the only team that played [in the] Champions League that has two days between in this time.”
In mitigation, Liverpool‘s lack of depth was clear with notable injuries and absences but, bar Rio Ngumoha, they still finished the game with senior players and Slot was able to call on the likes of Endo, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones and Hugo Ekitike off the bench.
Yet Slot was forthcoming in insisting Bournemouth could have made it 3-2 earlier. The winner came in the 95th minute and led to wild scenes, but it hardly came as a surprise for those who have followed Liverpool this season.
They conceded a 90th-minute winning goal for the third time in the Premier League this campaign – their most in a single season in the competition – and it was the fifth time they had lost points in stoppage time.
It was also the fifth Premier League goal they have conceded from a throw-in this season – the most of any team.
If Arsenal win against Manchester United on Sunday (16:30 GMT), Liverpool will be closer to the relegation zone than the top of the Premier League. That alone is a damning indictment of their woeful title defence.
“Their aim has to be salvaging the season by qualifying for the Champions League with a top-four or perhaps top-five finish – but that’s a big drop-off from what we saw last season,” added Shearer.
Liverpool‘s Premier League defence has been over for a while. This is a squad that should compete for the title next season, but right now they have no semblance of an identity, and above all are no longer feared.
