Controversial Christian Benteke goal gives Liverpool win over Bournemouth

Christian Benteke secured Liverpool a 1-0 win over Bournemouth in a game that turned on two goalmouth incidents.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead after five minutes, but Tommy Elphick was adjudged to have fouled Dejan Lovren en route to getting his header in the net.

And the hosts' goal - which was allowed to stand - was no less controversial, Benteke netting while the Bournemouth defence appealed that Philippe Coutinho was offside.

Bournemouth attacked with style and intent throughout, but failed to make any of their plethora of corners pay off. Liverpool were less than impressive but managed to hold on.

5' GOAL DISALLOWED Seriously? They've disallowed that for Elphick pushing Lovren?! Pfft. As if Lovren would have got anywhere near that.

26' GOAL! Benteke bundles that in at the far post as the Bournemouth defenders stand still and look to the linesman, whose flag never rises.

37' NO PENALTY! Liverpool fans appeal for a penalty as Gradel staggers into Henderson, but credit to the Reds captain, he's back on his feet immediately.

60' SO CLOSE! What an absolute biff from Ritchie, but he pulls that slightly wide of the near post.

80' CHANCE! Cook glances yet another Bournemouth corner across the face of goal.

86' CLOSER! Another chance goes begging - Francis heads over from Ritchie's corner.

90' CLOSE! Benteke could have fizzed that home but scuffed it into the turf from close range instead.

Liverpool remain unbeaten in all competitions against Bournemouth (W5 D2).

Since his Liverpool debut in the Premier League, only Steven Gerrard (25) has more Premier League assists for Liverpool than Jordan Henderson (22).

Henderson has 10 assists in the Premier League since the start of last season; more than any other English player.

Christian Benteke’s goal in this game was his 50th in English club football (all comps).

Benteke has now scored 12 goals in his last 13 Premier League appearances.

This is the sixth time in Premier League history that Liverpool have won their opening two games of the season, with the last occasion being in 2013-14 (when they also won both games 1-0).

Liverpool have now won four successive Premier League games played on a Monday.

Simon Mignolet has kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League goalkeeper in 2015 (11).

Just saying, this offside law debate is going to run and run. Philippe Coutinho was in an offside position, close to the ball, making a move to it, and affecting the opposition players, but Benteke's goal was allowed to stand. The failure once again to apply newly-tweaked laws will be in the spotlight.

Philippe Coutinho was the classiest player on the pitch. He did everything but score - and certainly played a part in the goal.

Liverpool: Mignolet 7, Clyne 7, Lovren 7, Skrtel 7, Gomez 7, Henderson 8, Milner 7, Coutinho 7, Lallana 7, Ibe 7, Benteke 7. Subs: Bogdan, Toure, Firmino 6, Moreno 6, Can 6, Origi, Ings.

AFC Bournemouth: Boruc 7, Francis 7, Elphick 7, Cook 7, Daniels 7, Ritchie 8, O'Kane 7, Surman 7, Gradel 7, King 7, Wilson 7. Subs: Federici, Smith 6, Distin, Mings, Gosling 6, Pugh, Tomlin 6.