OPINION
Liverpool produced a stunning performance as they dismantled Bournemouth 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Mohamed Salah scored a sublime hat-trick and Steve Cook netted an own goal as Jurgen Klopp’s side gave an emphatic reminder of their quality against the Cherries.
The Reds have been grinding results out somewhat in the Premier League this season, but proved they can still blow teams away with a terrific result against Eddie Howe’s team.
As usual there is plenty that can be gleaned from the game, and Live4Liverpool has rounded up three things that can be learned from the game.
Milner solid as always in milestone match
James Milner made his 500th Premier League appearance against the Cherries and produced a typically reliable performance despite a surprising positional switch from Klopp.
The former England international lined up at right-back, with Joe Gomez out injured and Trent Alexander-Arnold dropping to the bench. Despite his unfamiliarity with the position Milner looked comfortable throughout, proving his worth to the Reds once again.
The 32-year-old has carved out a terrific career for himself, and he will be hoping for another Premier League title with Liverpool this season. He of all people deserves another title triumph, this time on Merseyside.
Sensational Salah back to his best
Salah looked 100% back to his best against Bournemouth as he delivered a 90-minute masterclass to put Howe’s team to the sword. There’s no question about it, the Egyptian remains an elite-level talent.
He has blown hot and cold this campaign but he was on fire on Saturday. His second and third goals were absolutely ridiculous, as he somehow kept his feet for the second before making a clown out of Asmir Begovic for his hat trick goal.
Liverpool will need Salah to be on top form for their crunch Champions League tie against Napoli on Tuesday night, and his performance against Bournemouth suggests that he is rounding into form at exactly the right time for the Reds.
Keita still not at peak of his powers
Naby Keita’s time at Liverpool has been rather strange thus far. He came out of the blocks like a bat out of hell and he excelled in the early stages of the season. However, it’s gone slightly downhill since then.
Injuries have played a part in that, for sure, but Saturday’s performance showed he’s still not quite at his best. He didn’t look out of place in the middle of the park, but he didn’t do anything special either.
There is a top class player lurking within the 23-year-old and he’s going to emerge sooner or later. He’s still not at the peak of his powers, as his fairly pedestrian showing against Bournemouth proved, but he’s getting there slowly but surely.
