View: 9/10 Luis Diaz dazzles, 5/10 axed early – Liverpool player ratings v Bournemouth
Liverpool returned to winning ways under Arne Slot in the Premier League with a 3-0 win against Bournemouth on 21 September.
Luis Diaz scored a brace for the second time this season in the first half before Darwin Nunez ended a 14-game goal drought to secure a resounding victory at Anfield.
The Reds will have decisions to make regarding Dominik Szoboszlai after another poor outing resulted in his substitution midway through the second half.
Here’s how Liverpool News rated each player out of 10 at Anfield, with all stats from SofaScore.
Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-0
Caoimhin Kelleher – 8
Kelleher has sent a strong message out to any interested sides with an excellent performance at Anfield. The 25-year-old made seven saves against Bournemouth, more than Alisson has made in all four Premier League appearances this season. The Irishman is arguably the best number two in the league and has shown that again today keeping a clean sheet in his first start.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8
Alexander-Arnold followed up his assist midweek in the Champions League with an assist for Diaz’s second goal. With two key passes, one big chance created, and 50 per cent long ball completion paired with four tackles and three interceptions, Trent produced a clinic as he reminds the world why his preferred position is at right-back.
Ibrahima Konate – 8
The Frenchman is another who followed up a goal contribution midweek by getting in on the action against Bournemouth as he assisted Diaz for the first goal of the afternoon. Konate won 100 per cent of his aerial duels, blocked two shots, made five clearances, and has taken a lesson from the van Dijk playbook completing 61 per cent of his long ball attempts.
Virgil van Dijk – 7
The captain had a quieter outing than his French partner but played a vital role in the build-up play at Anfield completing 100 per cent of his 45 passes. There was little to do defensively with seven clearances the only notable contribution in what proved the perfect, quiet outing for any centre-back.
Andy Robertson – 7
Robertson is still having some teething problems adapting to Slot’s system, however, he looked more like the Robertson the fans know and love against Bournemouth. While he failed to complete any of his three cross attempts, he did end the match with 93 per cent pass accuracy with two key passes and one big chance created.
Ryan Gravenberch – 7
No more superlatives are left to describe Gravenberch in a Liverpool shirt this season. The Dutchman has been a colossus at the anchor of the midfield and continued his rich vein of form, winning 63 per cent of his duels, completing 88 per cent of his passes with one key pass, and completing 66 per cent of his long balls.
Alexis Mac Allister – 7
The Argentine was much more involved with the defensive side of the game against Bournemouth winning 57 per cent of his duels and making five tackles. Offensively, Mac Allister rarely fails to perform below par, with 93 per cent pass completion and two key passes.
Liverpool have had enough of Dominik Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai [off for Curtis Jones 61′] – 5
Szoboszlai still looks miles off the pace compared to his midfield teammates, the move further up the pitch behind the striker was supposed to unlock his attacking potential but is yet to yield the just rewards. The Hungarian won 50 per cent of his ground duels and completed 89 per cent of his passes but, yet another match passes in the Premier League without any notable impact from the midfielder. His removal from the match midway through the first half suggests patience is running thin with his performances.
Mohamed Salah – 8
Salah found himself back among the goals at Anfield, assisting Nunez to round off the resounding 3-0 win. The Egyptian was like a man possessed completing six key passes, winning 50 per cent of his 14 ground duels, and taking four shots on target. While Salah may be disappointed not to get on the scoresheet himself, he can still hold his head high after a dominant performance from the right flank.
Darwin Nunez [off for Federico Chiesa 72′] – 8
Nunez has moved ahead of Diogo Jota in the race to become the established lone striker under Slot and ended his 14-match goal drought on Saturday. The Uruguayan was much more clinical, scoring his one goal from his two shots on target. Nunez has finally seized his opportunity and now it’s time for the forward to live up to his potential for the Reds.
Luis Diaz [off for Cody Gakpo 72′] – 9
The Colombian should consider himself lucky to get the nod against Bournemouth after Gakpo’s performance against AC Milan midweek but what a decision that turned out to be by Slot. Diaz scored two goals for the second time this season from his four shots on target and bullied the opposition defence winning 62 per cent of his duels and completing 60 per cent of his dribbles. Who is this and what have they done to the Diaz who needed a million chances to score last season?
Substitutions:
Curtis Jones – 7
The 23-year-old has staked a serious claim to replace Szoboszlai in the starting lineup after his display against the Cherries. Jones completed 100 per cent of his passes, 100 per cent of his dribbles, and won 100 per cent of his duels in a 29 minute cameo.
Federico Chiesa – 6
Not a bad introduction to life in the Premier League from the Italian forward who came so close to opening his Reds account with one of his two shots hitting the woodwork.
Cody Gakpo – 7
Gakpo was unlucky not to start again on the weekend after a fantastic performance against AC Milan in the Champions League. The Dutchman, however, made his minutes on the pitch count at Anfield with three key passes, one big chance created, and completed 100 per cent of his dribbles with only 13 touches on the pitch.
In other Liverpool news, the Reds are set to smash the £31m barrier with the latest Dua Lipa announcement.
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