CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe admitted that cutting edge in the final third had been the major difference as Liverpool spoiled the party at Dean Court.

Howe’s men produced good football and were on top in the first half but failed to capitalise before Victor Moses struck against the run of play on 26 minutes.

Cherries continued to impress but the Premier League giants booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round when Daniel Sturridge sealed a 2-0 win after the break.

Howe said: “When we looked at our preparations for the game, what we wanted, first and foremost, was the right result.

“We also wanted a performance which made everyone go away thinking what a good team Bournemouth are.

“But not only just a good football team, also how hard the players work for each other and their mentality.

“That was the challenge we set the players and, hopefully, we achieved that. We didn’t get the result to match it but I didn’t think it was far away.

“Everyone says that goals change games and they do. With their first real attack, they scored and showed the cutting edge which, unfortunately, we didn’t during the game.”

Howe continued: “In the first half, I felt we gave a really good account of ourselves and were unfortunate to be 1-0 down at half-time.

"On another day, with better decision-making around the box in the final third, we possibly could have led at half-time.

“We started the second half very well and then went 2-0 down. On the balance of play at that time, it was really hard on us to be 2-0 down.

“I thought it took us 10 minutes to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and then we kept going and our heads never dropped.

“I said to the players at the end that if we can replicate that level of performance in our own league, we should have no worries about what we are going to do this season.”

Howe said he felt Liverpool had selected a star-studded team because they knew Cherries would provide a stern test.

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers included England captain Steven Gerrard and hotshot striker Luis Suarez in a virtually full-strength side.

Howe added: “Knowing Brendan as I do, he would have done his homework on us and watched us.

"Looking at our recent performances, he would have thought they were in for a tough game and that was why he picked the team he did.

“Ultimately, that quality in the front areas, particularly, was the difference between the two teams.

"But if we were to win today, we wanted to beat their best team and I think that the supporters wanted to see their best team. That made it a great day for our fans.”

  • GRAB today’s Daily Echo for your bumper 16-page FA Cup special looking back on Cherries’ FA Cup date with Liverpool including photos, report and in-depth match reaction from Dean Court.