Luis Diaz shone brightly as Liverpool delivered an impressive performance against Bournemouth at Anfield, scoring two quick goals in the first half. After a disallowed goal for Bournemouth due to an offside call, Liverpool quickly took control. Diaz first rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga to slot the ball into an empty net, then added a second by firing through the goalkeeper’s legs.
Darwin Nunez contributed a stunning third goal with a curling shot, marking his return to form after a long absence from the scoresheet. Federico Chiesa made an exciting debut, nearly scoring with a powerful effort that struck the woodwork. Despite some late pressure from Bournemouth, including a shot that hit the crossbar, they suffered their second consecutive defeat.
This victory lifted Liverpool to the top of the Premier League, setting the stage for an important clash between Manchester City and Arsenal on Sunday.
Saturday’s victory capped off a nearly perfect week for Arne Slot, who will be thrilled with his team’s response after last weekend’s frustrating defeat to Nottingham Forest. Following their midweek Champions League win against AC Milan, Liverpool encountered an early scare but quickly found their rhythm, with Luis Diaz scoring the opener in the 26th minute.
Diaz had already tested Kepa Arrizabalaga with a fierce shot that was tipped over the crossbar, while Kepa also thwarted attempts from Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez as Liverpool sliced through Bournemouth’s defense. However, Kepa was caught out of position for Diaz’s first goal, allowing him to confidently slot it home after receiving a pass from Ibrahima Konate.
Just 11 minutes later, Diaz scored again, notching his fifth league goal of the season, before Nunez added a spectacular third. At that moment, fans might have reminisced about Liverpool’s 9-0 win over Bournemouth in August 2022, but the second half proved to be less eventful.
A debut goal from Federico Chiesa would have been the icing on the cake, but he showcased his potential by linking up well with Salah and Cody Gakpo in the second half. With this win, Liverpool has now won 10 of their last 11 league meetings with Bournemouth, with the only loss being a 1-0 defeat away in March 2023.
Leave a Reply