Liverpool smiled once again in the Premier League with a commanding performance on Saturday as they defeated AFC Bournemouth 3-0 at home, securing at least for now, the top of the table. The star of the game? Luis Díaz, with two goals in a small amount of time, followed by Darwin Núñez, who topped the win with a brilliant goal. This was the exact response from the head coach, Arne Slot, after their defeat in the previous game 1-0 to Nottingham Forest.
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Luis Díaz and clinical efficiency
The name of Luis Díaz was leading in the post-match headlines, and that was pretty fair on him. This Colombian forward was a real nightmare for the guests' defense and for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who watched two goals flying past him in just two minutes. Díaz, then, capitalized on poor positioning from Arrizabalaga for the first and didn't forgive. Just 2 minutes and 2 seconds later, he then coolly finished between the goalkeeper's legs in a calmness reserved for forwards at the top of their game.
Díaz is now becoming crucial for Liverpool, managing to match the likes of Michael Owen and Mohamed Salah, who also shone in like manner within their respective seasons, with five goals in the first five matches of the 2024/25 Premier League season. The efficiency of the Colombian winger is just starting to make waves and will surely be a key weapon for Liverpool throughout the current season.
Darwin Núñez: speed, technique, and that special touch
While Díaz opened the path, Darwin Núñez delivered the final blow to Bournemouth. The Uruguayan forward had his moment of brilliance right at the end of the first half, with a true masterpiece of a goal. He dribbled, took a chance, and made the impossible look so easy as he sent the Anfield crowd into a frenzy.
Naturally, Arne Slot didn't spare any praise for Núñez. The coach admitted that the player is important, not only because of his nose for goals but also for all the work he does for the team in other areas of the field. "Darwin is involved in everything, including the defense and building up plays," Slot said, adding that the forward has been very important in the defensive system.
But that goal by Núñez was the brilliance. Even Slot admitted that he did not understand at first why Núñez did not continue with the dribbling until it became a brilliant ending. "Maybe he's a better player than I ever was," a joking coach said during the post-game news conference, acknowledging Núñez being smart on that shot.
An impenetrable Liverpool
Besides the performances of their forwards, Liverpool stood out for defensive solidity. Indeed, the team has kept clean sheets in four matches out of five matches during the first five matches of the current season, something that had only been equalled by historic seasons like 1967/68 and 2021/22. The backline, with players like Ibou Konaté, has been impeccable, ensuring the Reds score but protect their goal at the same time.
Slot attributed this to the balance between attack and defense. The ability not to concede goals, he said, is as crucial as that of scoring them, and this defensive performance was one of the pillars that sustained their win against Bournemouth, dominated from the first to the last minutes. Liverpool controlled the pace and closed up spaces so as not to allow a comeback from the opponents at any time.
This convincing victory leaves the Reds temporarily at the top of the Premier League table, with the upcoming clash between Manchester City and Arsenal sure to shake things up even more in this fight for the top spot. Whatever happens from that direct match between these two giants, Liverpool have already shown they have the team and the heads for the top positions until the end of the season.