Written by Mark Strickland
Liverpool 3-0 AFC Bournemouth: Luis Diaz’s brace and Darwin Nunez’s first goal of the season banish memories of Nottingham Forest in an improved Anfield atmosphere.
Deputising goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was called upon in the absence of Alisson Becker to make two key saves to preserve a welcome clean sheet – the Reds’ fourth in five Premier League games.
Summer signing and the lively Antoine Semenyo had given the visitors a third-minute lead, but VAR overturned referee Tony Harrington’s on-field decision, ruling him offside.
During the week, Head Coach Arne Slot called on the Anfield crowd to “help us” and they raised their game to another level after Semenyo’s early scare.
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After a sighter, the seemingly born-again Luis Diaz rode three challenges before Kepa Arrizabalaga denied him at his near post – he should have passed.
Having made the shirt his own in recent weeks, Ibrahima Konate played a long ball to Diaz that allowed the Colombian to round the stranded Arrizabalaga and it was third time lucky as he cooly slotted beyond a retreating defender to break the deadlock.
He doubled his tally for the afternoon two minutes later, Bournemouth allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold to advance into the final third and offload to Diaz who this time put the ball through the legs of the Spanish stopper.
Darwin Nunez snatched the attention after though as he curled a wonderful effort home from the corner of the area, left-footed, in off the post, on his first start this season, statement made.
In truth, the game was over as a contest after 37 minutes and although Kelleher remained concentrated to deny Luis Sinisterra who hit the bar, The Reds were more than good value for the win and three points.
There was however still time for Federico Chiesa to make his Anfield debut and the Italian nearly scored to mark his bow in front of The Kop but hit the post – 3-0 it stayed.
WE HAVE EVERY ANGLE COVERED OF THE REDS’ HERE!
Player Ratings
XI: Caoimhin Kelleher 8, Trent Alexander-Arnold 7, Ibrahima Konate 8, Virgil van Dijk 7, Andy Robertson 7; Ryan Gravenberch 8, Alexis Mac Allister 6, Dominik Szoboszlai 7, Mohammed Salah 7, Darwin Nunez 8, Luis Diaz 9
Subs: Curtis Jones 6, Federico Chiesa 7, Cody Gakpo 6.