Liverpool surged to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday with a commanding 3-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. Luis Diaz stole the spotlight, scoring two quick goals in the first half before Darwin Nunez sealed the win with a stunning third.
The match started with an early scare for the hosts when Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo had a goal disallowed for offside following a VAR review. However, Liverpool quickly took control. In the 26th minute, Diaz opened the scoring, capitalising on a defensive error by Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to tap home.
Just over two minutes later, Diaz doubled the lead with a composed finish through Kepa’s legs after a well-placed pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, marking the defender’s 100th goal involvement for Liverpool across all competitions.
Nunez added a brilliant curling effort nine minutes before halftime, sending Liverpool into the break with a comfortable 3-0 lead.
The second half saw Liverpool dominate possession, although Mohamed Salah came close to adding to the scoreline, with one of his efforts cleared off the line. Bournemouth threatened a late consolation through Luis Sinisterra, but Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher denied him twice, including a deflection off the crossbar.
This victory moves Liverpool to the top of the Premier League with 12 points from five matches, showcasing their title ambitions ahead of their crucial clash against Manchester City and Arsenal. Bournemouth, on the other hand, continues to struggle, sitting in 13th place with just one win in their last eight league games.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot will be pleased with his team’s response after their previous 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Diaz’s impressive form has been a key factor, with his two goals bringing his total to five in Liverpool’s opening five games of the season.
Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Bournemouth will aim to bounce back against Southampton in their next fixture.
