Liverpool confirmed there may be life with out Mohamed Salah by blowing Bournemouth away in a devastating second half efficiency.
The Cherries are one of many in-form groups within the Premier League and had been licking their lips on the prospect of going through a Jurgen Klopp workforce with out Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson and plenty of extra. But whereas their Egyptian star man is nursing an harm picked up on the Africa Cup of Nations, Darwin Nunez broke Bournemouth’s resistance with a easy end 4 minutes after the interval.
As Andoni Iraola’s aspect tried to seek out an equaliser, Diogo Jota punished the ever-expanding gaps within the pink and black wall with two devastating targets on the counter-attack, earlier than Nunez added his second of the night to safe a significant 4-0 away victory. As the Merseysiders moved 5 factors away from Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa on the high of the Premier League desk, Daily Star Sport thought-about what Klopp bought proper on the Vitality Stadium.
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Not altering
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Klopp is with out Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and plenty of extra. The excuses would write themselves if Klopp determined to change his type to tighten up on the again. However, his aspect attacked Bournemouth with the identical thrust and depth they might have if his aspect had been absolutely match.
Bournemouth have overwhelmed gamers with their very own high-pressing, energetic soccer, however they had been usually penned into their very own half by the Merseysiders. Klopp will at all times again his gamers to the hills, however few would have blamed him from taking up the in kind Cherries with a extra cautious method.
Not giving in to temptation
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Bournemouth are a fan of a excessive line and Liverpool possess three very pacey wingers – the pure attacking method may very well be written on the again of a cigarette packet. However, Liverpool weren’t tempted into walloping balls excessive of the pink and black backline for his or her wingers to possibly run onto.
Instead, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott had been the principle cogs within the Liverpool assault; receiving passes in tight house and shifting the ball onto the frontline. It’s one other instance of Klopp trusting all of his gamers to hold out his philosophy on the pitch.
Smothering Solanke
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Klopp could have signed Dominic Solanke in 2017, however do not be fooled – the Solanke of the Vitality Stadium just isn’t the one who couldn’t get a kick at Anfield. The ex-Chelsea ahead is without doubt one of the most in kind forwards within the Premier League.
He would have been licking his lips on the prospect of going through his former aspect, notably when they’re lacking so many gamers. Yet, he was nullified by two titanic performances from Virgil van Dijk and the consistently enhancing Ibrahima Konate.
Klopp seemingly instructed the big duo to stay to the centre-forward like glue and they didn’t give him one second on the ball. Solanke was outmatched bodily and intelligently by the Liverpool pair, who look to have lastly shaped the partnership their followers have been ready for.
Nunez and Jota switcheroo
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Nunez is of course a centre-forward, Jota is of course a winger, so Klopp naturally determined to place Nunez on the wing and Jota at centre-forward. It’s an uncommon method which has been tried and examined a couple of occasions this season.
However, it labored completely completely. At current, Jota’s ending instincts are a lot sharper than these of Nunez, who has been struggling in entrance of aim ever since he joined the membership. However, the Uruguayan ahead stored his cool and completed off a free-flowing team-move to place Liverpool forward, earlier than Jota punished two lapses of focus from the Cherries with two punishing finishes.
It’s not one thing Klopp envisaged when each gamers joined the membership. Yet, it is working at simply the precise time.