BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 17, 2017: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia celebrates scoring the first goal with team-mates during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool: Reds romp to victory as Salah nets 20th of season

Liverpool cruised to an impressive 4-0 win over Bournemouth, with four different goalscorers on target.

Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool

Premier League, Dean Court
Sunday, December 17, 2017

Goals

Coutinho 20′
Lovren 26′ (assist: Firmino)
Salah 44′
Firmino 66′ (assist: Coutinho)

Jurgen Klopp made four changes to the team that drew with West Brom, with Simon Mignolet, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replacing Loris Karius, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Emre Can (suspended) and Sadio Mane.

After an even opening 10 minutes, Liverpool almost took the lead when Philippe Coutinho hit a sweetly-struck free-kick right on the edge of the box, his strike hit the inside of the post but didn’t go in.

The Brazilian though was on target 10 minutes later, producing a beautiful solo effort to make it 1-0. Coutinho exchanged passes with Andrew Robertson down the left, then cut inside past several defenders and placed his shot past Asmir Begovic at the near post.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 17, 2017: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia scores the first goal during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

It was 2-0 on 25 minutes, with Dejan Lovren heading in from close range after Roberto Firmino had expertly prevented a corner from going out past the far post.

Liverpool were in control, in a very similar manner to this match last season – where they threw away their lead to eventually lose 4-3 in the dying moments of the game.

Jermaine Defoe almost halved the advantage when he broke free before half-time, but his shot thankfully cannoned back off the post.

Superb interplay between Firmino, Coutinho and Salah almost saw the latter make it 3-0 just before half-time, but he was denied by Begovic.

The Egyptian was on the scoresheet for his 20th goal of the season moments later with a superb solo goal – the first Liverpool player to hit 20 goals in a season since Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez in 2013/14.

Salah cut in from the right, turning Charlie Daniel inside out, before cutting inside and placing a shot into the far bottom corner. Sensational. 3-0.

Half-time: Bournemouth 0-3 Liverpool

  • Klopp makes 4 changes; Mignolet, Gomez, Henderson & Oxlade start
  • Two goals in 5 minutes in first half for Reds
  • Salah hits his 20th goal of the season
  • Reds move up to fourth in league

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 17, 2017: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores the third goal during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool started the second half looking to ensure there wasn’t a collapse like this game last season, with the home side having brought on dangerman Ryan Fraser at the break.

It was almost 4-0 just before the hour, with Oxlade-Chamberlain producing a superb tackle and powerful run but his shot rattled off the post.

It was 4-0 on 66 minutes, with Firmino heading home Coutinho’s cross from the left. That made it 50 goals for Liverpool’s ‘fab four’ already this season.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 17, 2017: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring the fourth goal during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

A commanding lead allowed Klopp to make changes late on with Friday’s game at Arsenal in mind. Adam Lallana made just his second appearance of the season, replacing Salah for the final 20 minutes.

Dominic Solanke replaced Firmino with 15 minutes remaining, and Danny Ings got a late cameo for the final 5 minutes, replacing Coutinho.

TIA Man of the Match: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Referee: Andre Marriner

Next Match: Arsenal (away, Friday 22nd December)

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