Liverpool prolonged their lead on the prime of the Premier League as they claimed a 2-0 win ver Bournemouth on the south coast.
Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
Premier League (21), Vitality Stadium
January 21, 2024
Objectives: Nunez (49′, 90+3′), Jota (70′, 79′)
Mac Allister places on midfield masterclass
After Liverpool failed so as to add a big-money holding midfielder to their squad final summer time, you might need thought that this January window would have been outlined by calls to signal one.
However that there was no such clamour owes a lot to the truth that Alexis Mac Allister is more and more taking a look at dwelling in a task so many declared he couldn’t play.
The Argentine confirmed as a lot right here, placing on one among his greatest performances in a Liverpool shirt to assist his workforce management what ought to have been a difficult away recreation.
An 87% passing accuracy, 11 passes into the ultimate third, and 4 probabilities created are testomony to the standard on the ball Mac Allister confirmed.
No Liverpool participant has made extra tackles in a Premier League recreation within the final eight seasons than Alexis Mac Allister towards Bournemouth (9).
He additionally received possession 15 occasions and received 14 duels. ? pic.twitter.com/YgDVORq4Lv
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 21, 2024
However he additionally evidenced an underrated facet of his recreation in successful 12/17 duels and recovering the ball a outstanding 15 occasions.
“So long as you’ll be able to present a compact formation, Macca is an excellent six,” praised Klopp post-match.
He actually does have all the pieces required to thrive as a No.6.
Konate and Van Dijk are league’s greatest pair
In fact, as a lot as Liverpool managed issues within the center, there have been nonetheless moments when Bournemouth had been in a position to threaten their field.
Nevertheless, Andoni Iraola’s males solely discovered themselves operating into the brick wall that’s Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, who may effectively be the Premier League‘s greatest defensive pairing on this second.
Right here, Van Dijk made 5 blocks and 4 clearances, whereas Konate received a powerful eight out of his 10 aerial duels and 4 out of 5 on the bottom as Bournemouth had been persistently repelled.
If Jurgen Klopp can preserve this pair persistently harm free, then Liverpool have each likelihood of conserving their outstanding latest kind going.
Nunez will get much-needed confidence increase
Liverpool followers have been fully proper to level out that, throughout a latest barren run in entrance of objective, Darwin Nunez has nonetheless been a internet optimistic for the workforce.
Not solely has the Uruguayan been racking up assists, he has additionally pressed and made issues occur along with his runs in behind and hold-up play.
“Shit Andy Carroll” ? https://t.co/zGwuKTsmUj
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) January 21, 2024
Nonetheless, a return of 1 objective in 16 appearances isn’t ok for a participant of this high quality, notably when it’s a results of lacking probabilities.
With that in thoughts, the hope might be that this brilliantly taken brace can present a confidence increase for Nunez that ushers in a purple patch in entrance of objective.
His tenth objective of the season had the Liverpool followers singing ‘S**t Andy Carroll’ sarcastically.
Conor Bradley continues to shine
It can’t be talked about sufficient that Liverpool have misplaced a world-class right-back in Trent Alexander-Arnold to harm and have merely plucked a more-than-capable alternative from their academy in Conor Bradley.
The Northern Irishman was massively spectacular once more right here, successful six duels, clocking up 9 defensive actions, and setting Diogo Jota up for a objective.
However greater than the numbers, he merely appeared extremely comfy enjoying at Premier League degree regardless of the actual fact he’s a 20-year-old making his debut within the top-flight.
That’s testomony to the unbelievable work performed by the academy throughout what’s lining as much as be a golden period of expertise manufacturing, and naturally the participant’s personal high quality and temperament.
Reds fail to get VAR rub of inexperienced
In per week that has seen Nottingham Forest write to the PGMOL a couple of referee’s spray, it might be honest to say that the discourse round officers is getting out of hand.
However that doesn’t imply Liverpool can’t really feel aggrieved that they didn’t get the rub of the inexperienced when it comes to selections on this win.
Consistency is rarely more likely to be discovered when human beings are concerned, however it’s obscure why Justin Kluivert’s problem on Luis Diaz wasn’t thought-about sufficiently unhealthy to convey the referee to display whenever you see what Curtis Jones was despatched off for at Tottenham.
And what motive may probably be given for a transparent journey on Diogo Jota on the road of the field (and due to this fact within the space) not ensuing within the award of a penalty?
Fortuitously for the Reds, these calls finally didn’t matter, however we now have already seen sufficient situations this season the place the result of the sport has been affected.
Klopp will solely hope that each one his workforce’s unhealthy luck when it comes to selections has been used up throughout this routine win.
