Match reportLuis Diaz double and Darwin Nunez goal see Liverpool beat Bournemouth

A quickfire brace from Luis Diaz midway through the first half was added to before the interval by Darwin Nunez as the Reds ensured there would be no repeat of last weekend’s home loss to Nottingham Forest.

The three points lifts Arne Slot’s team, for whom Federico Chiesa made his Anfield bow as a second-half substitute, to the top of the table before Manchester City’s meeting with Arsenal on Sunday.

Team news

Slot made four changes from the midweek win in Milan, with Caoimhin Kelleher – who replaced the injured Alisson Becker in goal – being joined in the starting XI by Diaz, Nunez and Andy Robertson. Kostas Tsimikas, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota also made way.

Team: Kelleher, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz (Gakpo, 72), Szoboszlai (Jones, 61), Nunez (Chiesa, 72), Mac Allister, Salah, Robertson, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold.

Unused subs: Jaros, Gomez, Jota, Tsimikas, Bradley, Quansah.

First half

It appeared that Bournemouth had taken an early lead when Antoine Semenyo slid in at the back post to convert Justin Kluivert’s low ball across, but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.

That reprieve roused Liverpool and Robertson hit the side-netting before Diaz saw a vicious strike tipped over the crossbar by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Kepa then denied Mohamed Salah – who had latched on to a beautifully weighted, driven pass from Alexis Mac Allister – prior to Kelleher making an important intervention at the other end to thwart Semenyo.

Again Kepa kept the visitors level by parrying away Diaz’s attempt to beat him at his near post following an electrifying piece of wing play from the Colombian, but the Reds’ No.7 could be resisted no longer.

Midway through the half, a raking pass by Ibrahima Konate located Diaz, whose intelligent first touch cushioned the ball away from the advancing Kepa on the edge of the area before he calmly applied the finish.

And with Anfield still celebrating and Bournemouth reeling, Liverpool struck again immediately.

Trent Alexander-Arnold surged forward from deep and resisted the temptation to pull the trigger from 18 yards, instead slipping a pass into Diaz, who did the rest by slotting in his fifth goal in five Premier League appearances this term.

Slot’s side were in the mood and the Cherries were unable to make it to half-time without suffering further as, eight minutes before the break, Nunez notched stylishly.

Another long pass from Konate started the move, with Salah flicking on to Nunez, who had drifted out to the right flank. From there, the No.9 cut inside on his left foot and arced a perfect curler in off the far post for his first goal of the campaign.

Second half

With any pre-match pressure following last weekend’s home defeat alleviated, the Reds were able to perform with freedom and Ryan Gravenberch – serenaded with a reworked version of the Kop’s old ‘Gini Wijnaldum’ chant – saw a long-range effort saved.

Salah so nearly got his goal on the hour, only for a defender to clear off the line after the Egyptian had seized another fine Mac Allister pass ahead of Kepa, and it was then time for Anfield to welcome Chiesa.

The Italy forward’s first touch was a speculative, dipping half-volley from 25 yards that was gathered by Kepa.

The points may have been secure but the hosts’ determination to keep a clean sheet was underlined by Kelleher’s superb reaction stop from Luis Sinisterra, which he followed up by clawing the ball to safety when it bounced off the crossbar and struck Alexander-Arnold from a Bournemouth corner.

Attendance: 60,347