What Liverpool supporters did speaks volumes as Darwin Nunez moved to tears in Arne Slot response
For the second weekend in succession, the gaps began to appear around Anfield as home supporters realised there was little chance of additional time altering the outcome.
This time, though, there was none of the disgruntlement and disappointment that greeted the final whistle of a week previous as Liverpool fans departed delighted after witnessing an afternoon of reassurance and encouragement.
So continue the attempts of Arne Slot’s side to prove the shock home loss to Nottingham Forest was nothing more than a minor bump in the road during the early tenure of the Dutchman.
READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings as Luis Diaz outstanding and three others excellent against Bournemouth
READ MORE: What happened to Darwin Nunez with 30 minutes remaining shows truth Liverpool know about striker
Certainly, the Reds boss can have no complaints over the reaction of his players to last week’s dismal reverse.
Having opened their Champions League programme on Tuesday with an ultimately convincing win at AC Milan, here it was Bournemouth who were routinely despatched.
It provided much-needed balm to any Anfield sores that may have festered after the Forest setback, when Slot’s reluctance to rotate, the inability of his team to break down a well-drilled rearguard and the impact of the home support all found themselves thrust into the spotlight.
Three goals inside 11 first-half minutes did the damage for Liverpool here, with Luis Diaz, the stellar performer in the opening weeks of the season, marking his recall with a well-taken brace.
The Colombian now has five goals an assist in six appearances for the Reds this term, a stirring response to doubts over his long-term Anfield future that surfaced with Liverpool’s failed attempt to take Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United this summer.
The biggest cheer, though, was reserved for Darwin Nunez who, on his first start of the campaign, curled in a superb solo effort that seemingly moved him to tears during his emotional celebrations. Given his recent well-documented frustrations and the fact it ending a goal drought for his club that stretched back to April, it was perhaps understandable.
Nunez, though, will always command more conversation than most. And having been challenged by Slot before the game to start repaying the confidence shown in him, the Uruguayan duly delivered. having scored three goals last season against Bournemouth. His campaign, as with Cody Gakpo in Milan, will hopefully now be up and running.
There was scope for Federico Chiesa to be afforded a first Anfield cameo from the bench, the striker almost making an instant impact with an ambitious 30-yard shot. The Italian will benefit from more minutes in the tank.
Even before the quickfire treble, Liverpool had already been knocking loudly on the Bournemouth door with a performance of energy and intensity that was worlds away from the Forest surrender, Slot’s players answering his call to give the home support something to feed off.
If the midweek win at the San Siro was a first indication of Slot inevitably embracing rotation, this was the first real test of the strength in depth of the squad he inherited from predecessor Jurgen Klopp.
Not least in goal where, with the hamstrung and freshly-shaven Alisson Becker watching from the dugout, Caoimhin Kelleher was given a first competitive start since the harrowing home Europa League loss to Atalanta back in April.
There were early scares when Antoine Semenyo had a goal disallowed for offside and then forced a save from Kelleher. And with Liverpool choosing to drop into game management mode for large spells of the second half, there will be concerns at how regularly Bournemouth were able to threaten after the break.
Kelleher, though, was equal to everything from the Cherries – one save from Luis Sinisterra particularly impressed – and is clearly ready for an extended spell in the team if required. No team has conceded fewer in the Premier League than Liverpool this season.
One area in which Slot has not yet rotated is midfield. Small wonder, given the continued growing understanding between Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, their rotations and triangles again impressing.
Yet for all the discussion about Liverpool now being intent on passing opponents into submission, there remains nothing wrong with the occasional good old-fashioned long ball forward. Especially when, as was proven on 26 minutes, it can finally break down a stubborn rearguard.
In fairness, Bournemouth were already starting to teeter with Diaz the chief danger with his traditional wing play. But it was the anticipation and composure of the Colombian that allowed him to race on to Ibrahima Konate’s searching pass in behind the visiting defence, control the ball away from Kepa Arrizabalaga after the Bournemouth goalkeeper was caught in no-man’s land outside his area, and then slot home beyond the retreating Julian Araujo near the goalline.
The second goal two minutes later, though, was much more in keeping with the Slot aesthetic. With Liverpool maintaining possession with purpose down the right, Mohamed Salah teed up Trent Alexander-Arnold to sprint forward unchecked towards the Bournemouth area and roll the ball into the path of Diaz to score underneath Kepa.
Then, on 37 minutes, came Nunez’s moment. After doing well to nod a searching Konate ball inside to Salah, he raced on to the Egyptian’s return pass, stood up his marker Illia Zabarnyi, entered the penalty area and then curled a left-footed shot in off Kepa’s far post.
Bournemouth, having overturned a two-goal lead to win at Everton last month, were never coming back from that. While not quite an afternoon when the power of Anfield was felt, this win at least suggested the lights went out only temporarily for Liverpool.