Lessons Learned from Liverpool’s 3-0 Win Over Bournemouth

Well, this was a glorious afternoon where, if we could see into the future, we may all have just gone home at half-time. Liverpool kept a clean sheet again in the League, despite giving up some chances to a Bournemouth side who certainly didn’t come to Anfield to lie down. There was a surprise start with a surprise scorer from what many expected, and despite a South American sparkling, there were stellar performances from many. We look at the lessons learned from a 3-0 home victory, where we can now rest a few ahead of the Carabao Cup.

South American Stardust

There were a few who felt Cody Gakpo deserved to start, and you could have made that case. However, Luis Diaz was brilliant in this one and now has five goals already this season. The first was a clever run, great control, and a cool head to round a rushing Kepa and give Liverpool the lead. The second was well-controlled and clinical from the Trent pass, which means he’s only three behind last season’s league total already. Darwin Nunez got his first start of the season and how he took his chance. His finish will grab the headlines, but it was the Uruguayan’s all-round performance and work-rate that will have impressed Arne Slot. They were the worthy match-winners here, although another deserves a mention.

Mac Allister and Grav Superb

That Ryan Gravenberch isn’t getting his own paragraph for this is almost a disgrace, but important to denote at the same time. Whilst Gravenberch was again brilliant, Alexis Mac Allister outshone him slightly in this one, and it’s been a superb but unheralded start to the season for the Argentine. Against Bournemouth, he won the most tackles (4) and the most duels (8), whilst also completing 93% of his passes. He hit a sublime half-volleyed pass to Salah in the first half which drew gasps from Anfield and should win something on its own. Gravenberch and Szoboszlai have been drawing the praise recently, but our best midfielder turned it on again here.

Konate Shines Again

Is there nothing that Ibou Konate can’t do right now? Having scored in the San Siro last Tuesday, he turned creator in this one. A chip that Rory McIlroy would have been proud of found the clever run of Diaz for the opener, but that wasn’t half his story. Konate completed the most passes on the pitch (95), won all his aerial duels (4/4), made 4 clearances, and won 5/7 duels. Even at the end, he was still making blocks as Bournemouth threatened, and chants of ‘Ibbboooooouuuu’ rang around Anfield. There was little belief at the start of this season he’d manage three games in a week with serious injury. Now we’ve seen just how serious the Frenchman is for Arne Slot.