Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Mohamed Salah found the back of the net as Liverpool eased themselves to winning ways and the Premier League summit, albeit temporarily as Manchester City regained top spot on Sunday after thumping Chelsea.
Jurgen Klopp’s men came into the match off the top spot for the first time since December as they dropped to second on goal difference following the Citizens 2-0 victory at Everton on Thursday.
Liverpool started cagey at Anfield but when Sadio Mane headed home to score his fourth consecutive goal in top-flight matches it all seemed rather too easy for the Reds with Jurgen Klopp’s men banishing the memory of their lacklustre back-to-back draws against Leicester City and West Ham. The result now means the Reds are unbeaten in thirty-four matches at home (W24, D10) and this home form will be vital in their title charge.
Classy Wijnaldum adds guile in the middle of the park
The Netherlands midfielder was one of the players who Klopp lost to injury on the eve of Monday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham. As in the 4-3 home win over Crystal Palace, which Wijnaldum also sat out, Liverpool lost control of central areas and were vulnerable to opposition counter-attacks. There were no such struggles with Wijnaldum back in the starting XI though and a commanding performance was crowned by a beautifully executed goal.
The lack of spark in Liverpool’s midfield in the draw at West Ham was also clear to see. With Wijnaldum back in the side at Anfield, he showed just how important his influence is in Klopp’s engine room. His runs from midfield were a constant threat and his goal was a thing of beauty, not taken like a man who had scored more goals for his country than his club this season.
Firmino’s form key to Liverpool’s title charge
It’s almost as if Firmino’s lack of form meant Liverpool’s razor-sharp creativity was stunted. West Ham was one of those games where the Brazilian had arguably one of his poorest games of the season but as the season has progressed the Brazilian’s influence has grown on the likes of Salah and Mane’s and their goal-scoring prowess has drastically improved.
He is the Ying to Liverpool’s pacy Yang and allows Klopp’s team to counter press right at the top making space for Mane and Salah to run into. He has been deputised to play a tad deeper in most matches this campaign, albeit centrally, which allows him to be the first man to receive the ball from the likes of Fabinho, Keita and Wijnaldum.
The highlight of this on the weekend was Liverpool’s third as the Reds snuffed out any renewed optimism from Bournemouth almost immediately after play resumed in the second half as they made it 3-0 with a sublime effort. Keita hoisted a forward pass into Firmino’s path and the No.9 laid it off to Salah with a cheeky backheel with Salah completing the move and sliding it under Boruc.
The second MOTM could easily have been Firmino, as the Brazilian’s passing, especially in the second half, was a sheer delight to witness.
Liverpool present their own statement of intent
Bournemouth may not present the toughest of challenges away from home, but after the points recently dropped by the Reds, most Liverpool fans would have greeted any sort of win with relief. The results are all that really count at this stage of the title race and Liverpool know if they keep winning, there is nothing City can do. Having said this, this was a comfortable and controlled performance that could have produced a more emphatic scoreline and suggested there was plenty left in reserve. Just about the only disappointment for Jürgen Klopp and his players was a succession of missed chances at the end of the fixture. With a little more composure in front of goal, Liverpool could practically have wiped out the goal-difference deficit – and what a statement of intent that would have been.
As the game moved on to the final quarter Salah hit the bar with only Boruc to beat. The result was never in doubt but when Keïta, Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold joined him in missing gilt-edged opportunities from close range in the closing minutes it meant Bournemouth were allowed to get off relatively lightly. A little more ruthlessness would not go amiss if this is to be Liverpool’s year.
For a top half finish, the Cherries away form must improve
Bournemouth have now suffered eight straight away defeats for the first time since 1984. They were without main striker Callum Wilson and offered little in reply but they will be concerned at once again losing heavily away from home against one of the Premier League’s big six.
Howe felt they were well in the game up until the controversial first goal though. “Up until the first goal we restricted space, we had some good ball movement around their box and it could have been different.
It’s been difficult for us, personally I think it’s not just a home form and away form, I think it’s just inconsistencies. We’ve had inconsistencies and never quite found that way to produce results. We’re looking to put that right, when we’re very good we can beat anybody.”
‘’Offside’’ first goal causes VAR stir and Red rejoice
Liverpool are seemingly having the season ‘champions’ have, offside luck, last-minute goal thrillers and a fairly healthy squad to play with. West Ham last time, Fulham at Anfield, Salah’s antics, have all had their share of written analogies and memes this season.
The first goal on the weekend again caused a lot of rival eyebrows to be raised and came at a time when the Cherries were starting to frustrate a tad at Anfield. While that worked well in the opening period and Howe’s men hung in there from a set play – Mane was half a yard offside – a huge turning point in the match.
VAR will help avoid such mishaps beyond next season onwards and although it was tight, offside would have been the right decision and the goal should not have stood. As temporarily as it might have been, this result saw Liverpool close the gap in terms of goal difference yet after Manchester City’s annihilation of Chelsea on Sunday, the goal difference now sits at 10. Bournemouth, meanwhile, remain in 11th place.
What’s next?
Liverpool have a 10-day break now with their next fixture being a home clash with Bayern Munich in the Champions League on February 19th. Bournemouth are not back in action for two weeks when they host Wolves on February 23rd.
