Liverpool surged to the top of the Premier League table with a convincing 3-0 victory over a leaky Bournemouth at Anfield.
Needing to right the wrongs of their shock loss to Nottingham Forest in gameweek four, Liverpool quickly ensured that Merseyside lightning would not strike twice, as South American stars Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez ripped the Cherries to shreds in the first half.
After Antoine Semenyo's fourth-minute strike was disallowed, Diaz continued his exceptional start to the Premier League season with two in the space of two minutes, moving onto five goals at this fledgling stage of the top-flight campaign.
The Colombian's double finally saw Liverpool's relentless pressure pay off after Kepa Arrizabalaga was forced into several first-half saves, but the Spaniard was partially at fault for Diaz's first and was then powerless to stop a sublime Nunez curler later in the opening period, the Uruguayan's first goal in 14 competitive Liverpool games.
Kepa received little to no protection from his disjointed backline, as Bournemouth were all over the shop defensively in the first half and were arguably fortunate to only be three down at half time; a repeat of the 9-0 from 2022 would not have been beyond the realm of possibility had the Reds been a little bit more clinical.
Chances continued to come the hosts' way after the break - PL debutant Federico Chiesa was particularly lively after coming off the bench - although Andoni Iraola's side were not going down waving the white flag and came agonisingly close to wiping out the Reds' clean sheet.
In the end, though, Bournemouth were condemned to make the long journey home without a consolation to show for their efforts, as Arne Slot's men overtook Manchester City and Arsenal into first place before the two sides' blockbuster battle on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the visitors drop down two places to 13th spot on account of their second straight Premier League loss, and one that could have easily been more embarrassing on another day.
LIVERPOOL VS. BOURNEMOUTH HIGHLIGHTS
Disallowed Antoine Semenyo goal vs. Liverpool (4th min, Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth)
An early let-off for the hosts, as Antoine Semenyo prods home at the back stick after a brilliant piece of individual play from Justin Kluivert, but the Ghana international had just gone slightly too early and the offside flag saves Liverpool.
Luis Diaz goal vs. Bournemouth (26th min, Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth)
The recalled Kepa Arrizabalaga had been keeping Bournemouth in the match for the first 25 minutes, but the on-loan Chelsea man has not covered himself in glory one bit here!
The ball is pumped long by Ibrahima Konate in the direction of Diaz, and Kepa opts to come out to try to intercept the Frenchman's pass. Wrong decision. Diaz takes it round him and avoids the backtracking Julian Araujo on the line for the opener!
Luis Diaz goal vs. Bournemouth (29th min, Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth)
Back in the starting lineup and back among the goals! Clinical Colombian Diaz bags his second of the match just two minutes after his first, thanks in no small part to a surging run from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool's right-back is given the freedom of the centre of the pitch and quickly advances towards the Cherries box before playing in Diaz, who composes himself and coolly slots the ball through Kepa's legs from a tight angle.
Darwin Nunez goal vs. Bournemouth (37th min, Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth)
That is certainly one way to justify your first Premier League start of the season! Mohamed Salah and Nunez swap roles, the former playing in his South American colleague down the right.
Rather than trying to pick out Salah or Diaz, Nunez cuts inside and bends a fabulous left-footed strike into the far corner, leaving Kepa with no chance. As scintillating as Liverpool have been, Bournemouth have been at sixes and sevens defensively, with no structure whatsoever.
MAN OF THE MATCH - LUIS DIAZ
© Imago
Whether Diaz's sensational form has something to do with the heavy summer transfer speculation only he knows, but the Colombian continued to steal the spotlight on Merseyside as he made it six goal contributions from just five Premier League games in 2024-25.
The former Porto man received a helping hand from Kepa for his first, but he took his second with total panache from a tight angle and was a constant threat with the ball at his feet, completing three dribbles in another individual masterclass.
LIVERPOOL VS. BOURNEMOUTH MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 59%-41% Bournemouth
Shots: Liverpool 19-19 Bournemouth
Shots on target: Liverpool 13-6 Bournemouth
Corners: Liverpool 3-9 Bournemouth
Fouls: Liverpool 10-12 Bournemouth
BEST STATS
100 - With today's assist for Luis Díaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold has now been directly involved in 100 goals as a Liverpool player (19 goals, 81 assists). Visionary. pic.twitter.com/OEfuU3PbU7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 21, 2024
Darwin Núñez ends a run of 14 competitive appearances and 22 shots without scoring for Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/Eo73gRwqFo
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 21, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Slot's Liverpool have just three days to recover before they go again, as the Reds host West Ham United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, three days before a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the top flight.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth have a lengthy break in between competitive contests, as their final match of September comes at home to fellow South Coast side Southampton two Mondays from now.
Ben Knapton
