Scott Parker described Bournemouth’s 9-0 loss at Liverpool as the most painful experience of his career but also a taste of things to come for his promoted team unless new signings arrive in the final days of the transfer window.
Bournemouth suffered a record-equalling defeat in the Premier League as Jürgen Klopp’s side registered their first win of the campaign in emphatic style.
The Liverpool manager expressed sympathy for his Bournemouth counterpart, who has spent £22.6m on two players and made three free transfers since winning promotion. “You look at the other two teams who went up and what they spent,” said Klopp of Fulham and Nottingham Forest. “Then you look at Bournemouth and think: ‘OK, what will happen there?’ The league is a really tough one and it is clear when you have just won promotion, the problems start now.”
Parker apologised to Bournemouth fans for the rout and admitted his players simply could not cope with the gulf in quality at Anfield. “It goes without saying it is a really humbling experience. I am pretty shell-shocked,” he said.
“I am not that surprised given the level here is far greater than we have. I am not making an excuse, some of the goals were our own doing.
“I feel sorry for the fans. I feel sorry for the players because we are ill-equipped at this level. This does not shine a light for me. There are players who are experiencing the Premier League for the first time. I never thought we could get beat 9-0 but I expected a real challenge at certain moments in certain games.
“This is the toughest day, as a player and certainly as a coach. The touchline today was pretty painful and I could sense it was painful for the players as well. They need some help.
“Liverpool were ruthless and my boys were flat to the floor, searching for oxygen at times and trying to breathe.”
Despite being at his lowest ebb the Bournemouth manager predicted further torment without necessary reinforcement before Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Parker added: “I can see some more [routs]. We need to make a decision. I have been clear how this season could look for us and I stick by that.
“We need to make a decision and try and help this young group who at times are struggling for air. Every one of us needs to make that decision. We have been trying to get more quality in and there are a million reasons why [it hasn’t happened].”
