Mirror
Liverpool thrashed Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, recording the joint-biggest win in Premier League history.
The Reds endured a difficult start to the season, picking up just two points from their opening three fixtures against Fulham, Crystal Palace and Manchester United. Yet those results were forgotten thanks to goals from Luis Diaz (two), Harvey Elliott, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino (two), Virgil van Dijk and Fabio Carvalho – as well as an own goal.
The record-equalling win leaves Liverpool eighth in the table. Jurgen Klopp’s side are back in Premier League action on Wednesday evening when they welcome Newcastle to Anfield. Here are the main talking points on a historic afternoon on Merseyside.
Liverpool’s electric start
At the beginning of the season, you’d have put your mortgage on Liverpool beating at least one of Fulham, Palace and Man Utd. After all, this is a team that dropped just four points from their final 18 Premier League games last term.
Everyone was surprised by Liverpool’s start to the campaign and there was a feeling that Saturday surely had to be there day. Especially as they were facing a Bournemouth side that failed to put up a fight against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Klopp’s side were out to reaffirm their title credentials and made the perfect start to the game. In just the third minute, Firmino found Diaz in the box with a brilliant delivery. The Colombian was on hand to emphatically nod the ball into the net. Easy-peasy.
Any lingering nerves were quelled three minutes later. Diaz was at the heart of the move again, using his fancy feet to find Elliott on the wing. He gave possession to Mohamed Salah, who picked out Firmino in space on the edge of the box.
The Brazilian failed to get the ball under his spell and it ran into the path of Elliott. That allowed the confident Englishman to curl an effort from distance into the bottom corner for his first goal in the Premier League. Not a bad way to open your account.
Another milestone for Henderson
Klopp was criticised on Monday night for selecting Jordan Henderson in the heart of Liverpool’s midfield three against Man Utd, with Elliott and James Milner playing either side. The skipper was back on the right of the three on Saturday afternoon and it showed.
The Reds dominated the midfield and looked a far better team with Fabinho in the middle, allowing Henderson to have more influence at both ends of the pitch. Elliott, meanwhile, was brilliant on the left of the three, causing problems from start to finish…
