On Saturday afternoon, Liverpool crushed Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield, achieving the joint-largest win in Premier League history.
The Reds had a rough start to the season, with only two points from their first three games against Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Manchester United. However, owing 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 – those outcomes were forgotten.
The record-equaling victory drops Liverpool to seventh place in the table. Liverpool return to Premier League action on Wednesday evening when they host Newcastle at Anfield. Here are the main talking points from a historic Merseyside afternoon.
You’d have bet your house on Liverpool beating at least one of Fulham, Palace, or Manchester United at the start of the season. After all, this is a side that dropped only four points in its final 18 Premier League games last season.
Everyone was taken aback by Liverpool’s start to the season, and there was a sense that Saturday had to be their day. Especially because they were up against a Bournemouth team that had failed to compete against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Klopp’s team was eager to reassert their title credentials and got off to a flying start. Firmino found Diaz in the box with a fantastic delivery in the third minute. The Colombian was there to nod the ball into the back of the goal. Easy-peasy.
Three minutes later, any remaining tensions were calmed. Diaz was at the heart of the play once more, this time finding Elliott on the wing with his fancy feet. He sent the ball to Mohamed Salah, who found Firmino in space on the edge of the area.
The Brazilian failed to control the ball, allowing it to fall into Elliott’s path. This allowed the assured Englishman to curl a long-range attempt into the lower corner for his first Premier League goal. That’s not a horrible way to start your account.
Liverpool were teasing Bournemouth by the 28th minute. A fantastic one-two between Firmino and Alexander-Arnold set up the latter for a long-range shot, with no one closing him down. It was a flawless hit into the top corner.
Everything was going Liverpool’s way, and it showed in the 31st minute as Firmino stabbed home a deflected pass. He’d already racked up a hat-trick of assists, and now he’d added a goal to the mix. The bright Brazilian had a fantastic afternoon.
There was still time before halftime to score another goal. Andy Robertson’s signature corner found Van Dijk in the box, and the Dutchman breezed past his opponent to nod in. The traveling fans were beginning to worry about the outcome.
After the break, Liverpool’s afternoon improved even more. Chris Mepham pushed a frightening cross from Alexander-Arnold into his own net just seconds after the game restarted. Was a double-digit victory now on the cards? The Reds were utterly invincible.
Liverpool’s eighth goal came in the 62nd minute. After a quick corner, Robertson sent a curling ball from the right that missed everyone in the box. Mark Travers, the goalkeeper, was forced to make a save but could only parry the ball to Firmino for a tap-in.
For a time, Anfield was silent, and many wondered if Klopp’s team was being kind to Bournemouth. Unfortunately for the guests, this was not the case. Fabio Carvalho scored his first goal for the club, and Diaz scored his second.
Liverpool came close to breaking the record. The hosts had a penalty shout knocked down after James Milner got close. It finished 9-0 in the end.
The Reds’ afternoon could have been much better if Erling Haaland hadn’t delivered a masterpiece. The Norwegian striker scored a hat-trick to help Manchester City come back from two goals behind against Crystal Palace to win 4-2 at the Etihad.
Nonetheless, it was a memorable day for Liverpool fans and another fantastic chapter in Klopp’s magnificent Merseyside saga. It’s also just what they needed to get their campaign started.