AnalysisFive talking points from Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota each scored twice as Liverpool beat AFC Bournemouth 4-0 on Sunday to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds were in fine form on the south coast, with all four goals coming in the second half as Jürgen Klopp’s side continued their perfect start to 2024.
Here are five things we noticed at Vitality Stadium…
Nunez delivers when it matters
Nunez likes it at Vitality Stadium. Having netted the winner here when the sides met in the Carabao Cup in November, the Uruguayan was on the scoresheet once more as the Reds secured three precious Premier League points.
Nunez’s 49th-minute strike opened the game up after a tight first half, the No.9 showing impressive composure to sweep home after Curtis Jones and Jota had opened Bournemouth up with two quick passes.
His second came in stoppage time when he slid in to direct Joe Gomez’s perfect cross into the far corner of Neto’s net.
Nunez now has 20 goal involvements this season, with 10 goals and 10 assists. Only the absent Mohamed Salah has a better record for the Reds this term.
The double also took him past a century of senior goals in club and international football: 25 for Liverpool, eight for Uruguay, four for Penarol, 16 for Almeria and 48 for Benfica.
Jota’s decisive touch
After providing the assist for Nunez’s opener, Jota took things upon himself thereafter, producing two clinical finishes to take the game away from Bournemouth.
His first was arrowed inside the near post from substitute Cody Gakpo’s neat pass, while his second was fired across goal into the far corner, after he had initially mishit Conor Bradley’s cutback.
Typical Jota, always influencing matches. He’s up to 11 goals for the season now, netting in both league meetings with the Cherries. A game-changer.
Mac Allister bosses it
If it was Liverpool’s attack that won them this game, it was their midfield that enabled them to grab control of it.
And at the heart of that was Alexis Mac Allister, who delivered a masterclass of controlled aggression in the centre of the park.
The Argentinian was in the thick of things from the word go. Nobody won possession more frequently (15) or contested more duels (19) and tackles (nine) than he did, and only Ibrahima Konate had more touches (95) and completed more passes (60).
A performance to be proud of for the World Cup winner.
The pride of Northern Ireland
Having impressed in the cup competitions, Bradley was given his Premier League debut here, making history in the process.
Not since Sammy Smyth, all the way back in 1954, had Liverpool fielded a Northern Irishman in a league match, and Bradley’s performance was one to remember.
He finished with an assist, setting up Jota’s second goal, and having shown once more that Liverpool’s Academy really is producing some players to be proud of.
Indeed, the Reds were able to give minutes to three more prospects in the closing stages, with Bobby Clark, Owen Beck and Kaide Gordon all brought on.
Away-day magic for Reds
If away days were tough for Liverpool fans last season, they’ve been a lot more enjoyable this time around.
The Reds have now amassed 22 points on the road this term, one fewer than they managed in the whole of the last campaign, and this was their biggest and most emphatic victory of the lot.
After a tight opening 45 minutes, Klopp’s side cut loose after the break, finishing ruthlessly and defending superbly to preserve their clean sheet.
The result brought up a fourth successive away league win for the first time since March 2022, a sequence supplemented by the Emirates FA Cup victory at Arsenal.
Next stop, Craven Cottage in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.