Paul Tomkins, Andrew Beasley, Daniel Rhodes, Chris Rowland and other TTT regulars will give their thoughts on the match for 24 hours after the game, and there’s post-match statistics and videos too.

Post-Match Thoughts

Paul Tomkins

Liverpool were not “9-0” better than Bournemouth, just as they didn’t deserve to drop as many points in the previous games.

But finishing is weird; it comes and goes in bursts, and there’s no shifting five or six of the nine from one game to replace the near-misses, post-hits and cleared-off-the-lines in the previous three games.

(Plus, a benefit-of-doubt offside went against Liverpool in midweek but went for the Reds today, as it favours the attacking side. I’d also have no complaints had the Bournemouth own goal been chalked off for offside, given that a player put under pressure is a case of interference, but it’s so badly applied in general that I’ll take it.)

That Liverpool won 9-0 against the full complement of 11 men, with 10 absentees for Jürgen Klopp and four teenagers starring (two scoring, the other two making their debuts), was a great sign. It’s just a shame that the ref didn’t add on half the required time to allow a tenth.

Never write off Roberto Firmino. He’s just too good, as seen with two goals and three assists today. At the very least, he’s a horses-for-courses player now.

He’s not going to stretch defenders in behind on a great big pitch like Old Trafford. Darwin Núñez will do that. There may still be time to work Firmino back into a number 8 position if he stays as super-fit as he’s always been, but when everyone is available, there are a lot of options.

On a smaller pitch, Liverpool moved the ball quickly, and a lack of pace in midfield and in the centre-forward position was not such an issue, as everyone could get up to support more easily; indeed, Bournemouth were sitting back. The distances were shorter, the passes crisper. It was easier on the older legs.

Liverpool actually started as brightly against Crystal Palace, but the goals wouldn’t flow; chances galore, and none taken until the second half, when down to ten men. Had that gone 2-0 as early as today’s game did, then it was likely three points in the bag.

Suddenly, Luis “he doesn’t score enough” Díaz has three in four league games, with two of them vital openers. His running off the ball has been immense this season so far, and here he got two headers, to show that he’s a threat in all kinds of ways.

From “he can’t replace Sadio Mané” to suddenly outscoring him on a per-game basis is just an example of how the short sample sizes of a new season can distort things, and also, the randomness of when the ball will go into the net versus those times when it won’t. Indeed, Mo Salah missed the Reds’ two biggest chances, and feeling sorry for Bournemouth (and it being the Kop end), the ref ignored two good penalty claims.

But, some things to savour:

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