Salah stars as Liverpool ease past Bournemouth

Liverpool returned to the Premier League summit with a slick showing and 3-0 victory against AFC Bournemouth.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were stylish from the off, downing Bournemouth to further compound the visitors’ struggles on the road and move back to the top of the division. Manchester City could yet ease back into pole position, but the advantage in the title race still firmly lies at Anfield.

The hosts’ midfield consisted of Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Fabinho, arguably Liverpool’s most well-rounded trio. James Milner was instead fielded at right-back, with youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold among the substitutes.

Bournemouth opted to leave new signings Dominic Solanke and Chris Mepham on the bench, with Josh King once again spearheading the visitors’ attack on his own.

And it was Bournemouth who recorded the first notable effort of the clash, Ryan Fraser’s strike on four minutes forcing Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson into a superb, plunging stop.

But the hosts quickly shrugged off any pre-match nerves and set about trying to break the deadlock. Mohamed Salah fired over the crossbar after cutting onto his left foot, before Roberto Firmino tested Artur Boruc from close range soon after.

Liverpool finally took the lead on the halfway point in the half, however. Milner swung in an inviting cross from the right flank, allowing Sadio Mane to race beyond his marker and nod beyond Boruc. Despite suspicions that the Senegalese had netted from an offside position, the officials were unmoved.

Within ten minutes, the hosts had doubled their advantage. Andrew Robertson fired a delicate ball into the penalty area for Wijnaldum who, under pressure from the backtracking Nathan Ake, lofted a sublime finish into the far corner.

Jefferson Lerma then rocketed an effort off target for Bournemouth before half-time, allowing Liverpool to enter the interval holding a comfortable lead.

But just minutes after the restart, the Reds moved further ahead. Keita sent an inch-perfect pass forward, which Firmino collected in his stride before bursting into the box. The striker then spotted Salah’s run to his left, and rolled across a beautiful flick for the Egyptian to bend home Liverpool’s third into the bottom left corner.

Firmino and Bournemouth substitute Lys Mousset later traded efforts, the former watching on as his powerful strike flashed against the woodwork and away whilst Mousset’s strike was parried to safety by Alisson.

The Brazilian frontman was then denied a spot on the score sheet after Boruc’s intervention, before Alexander-Arnold also forced the Polish shot stopper into heroics, further frustrating the hosts late on as the battle to increase their goal difference continued.

Liverpool quite simply regained their confidence and fluidity in front goal, visibly aided by the return of the criminally underrated Wijnaldum. Klopp’s side have firmly laid down their marker ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Champions League chasing Chelsea on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s woes on the road continued as expected at Anfield, extending their run of consecutive away defeats to eight.