Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez scored two goals each as Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points by brushing aside in-form Bournemouth 4-0 on their own patch.
After a tense first half, which Bournemouth arguably shaded, Nunez netted his 100th career goal by finishing off a slick Liverpool move four minutes after half-time.
Jurgen Klopp then made another impactful substitution as Cody Gakpo came off the bench to set up Jota for the visitors’ second goal on the break with 20 minutes to go, before the Portuguese winger scored a clinical third 10 minutes later.
Then, with Bournemouth down to 10 men due to injury, Nunez finished clinically from Joe Gomez’s cross to round off the scoring – as Liverpool showed there is life without Mohamed Salah, currently out with a hamstring injury on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.
Darwin Nunez is congratulated after giving Liverpool the lead at Bournemouth
The only blot on the afternoon was a potentially worrying injury to Curtis Jones, who limped off in the latter stages just three days before Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg away at Fulham, live on Sky Sports.
But the manner of the result, with Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke kept quiet as well, was the latest example to prove why Liverpool – missing Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai here – are capable of taking the Premier League title away from Manchester City this season.
WATCH: Liverpool’s clinical goals at Bournemouth
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Nunez remains calm in front of goal to give the visitors the lead at the Vitality
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Diogo Jota adds a second for Liverpool, leaving Bournemouth with a mountain to climb
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Jota gets his second goal of the game to all but confirm the three points for Liverpool
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Nunez grabs his second goal of the game to make it 4-0 to Bournemouth
A four-midable day for Liverpool
Bournemouth came into the game as the most in-form Premier League team over the last eight games and began it full of confidence.
A smart short corner saw Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie play a one-two along the byline, with the former forcing Alisson into a smart save at the near post.
Liverpool then stepped on the gas and took control of the middle of the half. Alexis Mac Allister had two long-range efforts, one whistling wide of the far post and the other straight at Neto. Luis Diaz and Nunez both put similar efforts straight down the Bournemouth goalkeeper’s throat.
Justin Kluivert escaped serious punishment for a high tackle on Diaz – which VAR did not look at – before the Cherries winger fashioned the best chance of the first half.
Kluivert got to the byline and pulled a cross back towards Solanke and Christie, with neither able to apply a goalscoring touch from close range.
Dominic Solanke had little to play with against his former club
Liverpool made Bournemouth pay for not taking that chance just four minutes after half-time. The impressive Ibrahima Konate played a stunning pass into Jones, who found Jota with a slick pass in the box.
Jota rolled the ball to Nunez in space – and not even the much-maligned forward could miss from there.
Bournemouth tried to respond instantly but Kluivert’s shot from the edge of the box was deflected over. At the other end, young Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley saw a header deflected wide, then had a shot well-saved by Neto from the resulting set-piece.
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Liverpool come close to adding a second through Conor Bradley
But Liverpool did eventually make it two with 20 minutes to go. As Jota won the ball in the half-way line, fed Nunez, got on the end of Gakpo’s pass to finish at the near post – via help from the woodwork.
Solanke fired straight at Alisson as Bournemouth searched for a way back but Jota ended the hosts’ hopes as Bradley crossed for the Liverpool forward who miscued with his first attempt before scoring with his second.
Klopp had some nervy moments as Jones limped off, then Bournemouth substitute David Brooks put a one-on-one wide.
But the last laugh went to Nunez as he stretched and connected with Gomez’s late cross from the right to score from in off the post. A four-midable day for the Merseysiders.
What’s next?
Bournemouth’s next game is at home to Swansea in the FA Cup fourth round on Thursday January 25; kick-off 7.45pm.
The Cherries then travel to West Ham in the Premier League on Thursday February 1; kick-off 7.30pm.
Liverpool are next in action at Fulham in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, with Jurgen Klopp’s side taking a 2-1 lead into the match on Wednesday January 24, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 8pm.
Wednesday 24th January 7:00pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Liverpool then host Norwich in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday January 28; kick-off 2.30pm.
