Liverpool have defeated Bournemouth 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium to maintain their impressive recent form and close in on the top five in the Premier League table.

The Reds scored both of their goals late in the first half through Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge, as a much-changed visiting side picked up another win to make it just two defeats in 14 outings overall.

Bournemouth improved in the final third of the match and found the net through Joshua King late on to put just a little pressure on their opponents, but they failed to complete the turnaround and must now wait another week to make certain of their top-flight status.

Sturridge was almost on the scoresheet just two minutes in when latching on to a loose pass at the back, but his first-time shot was easily stopped by Artur Boruc in the end.

The Cherries' first - and indeed only - on-target attempt of the first half arrived 19 minutes in, as Tommy Elphick's glancing header from a set piece ended in the hands of debutant keeper Danny Ward.

Fresh on the back of their impressive comeback win over Borussia Dortmund just three days ago, the Reds stepped things up in the second quarter of the match to put their stamp on the contest.

Both Seyi Ojo and Connor Randall came close to making a breakthrough in quick succession, being denied by a mixture of defender and keeper from close range as the hosts receded further and further back.

Sturridge was beginning to grow into the match a little more following some wayward initial shots, seeing Steve Cook's clearance come back off his legs to force Boruc into another key save from close range.

The Englishman, starting his fourth league game in succession for the first time in two years, was involved again soon after when his fine back-heeled attempt was only pushed as far as Firmino - the sole survivor from last time out - to tap home his eighth goal in 10 games.

Bournemouth struggled to see out the remainder of the half, conceding a second in the dying moments when Sturridge leapt highest to divert Jordon Ibe's right-sided free kick beyond the reach of Boruc.

Liverpool's only league defeat in their last seven prior to today had arrived on the south coast when two goals to the good at Southampton, yet it could have been game over moments into the second half after Firmino blasted wide unmarked from 10 yards out.

A second chance went begging on the 50-minute mark when Sturridge, played through by Joe Allen, saw his dinked attempt come back off the post when he really should have been picking out of the net.

Bournemouth were struggling to truly get into the game as the hour mark approached, yet they could have been awarded a penalty when the ball bounced onto Kolo Toure's hand.

Referee Mike Jones felt that there was not enough distance between player and ball, but Eddie Howe's charges were very much in the ascendency for the final third of the match.

King cut inside before seeing his shot kept out by Ward, while again being played in down the right soon after only to be thwarted by the Welshman for a second time.

There was a return to action on home soil for Callum Wilson in the final 10 minutes following seven months on the sidelines, and he almost made an instant impression when a deflected strike had to be cut out by Ward.

Liverpool had a good chance to extend their advantage further late on when Sturridge saw his shot cannon back off the frame of the goal for a second time, and when King found the net up the other end with his half-volley a tense finale ensued.

Cook headed over in the final seconds of the match from the Cherries' final chance, however, ensuring that Liverpool extend their unbeaten run against Bournemouth to nine games.