This was a game of huge significance in Liverpool's quest for the Premier League title this season, for the previous two matches have been about picking up the points to close the gap on Manchester City and not fall behind. But this time Liverpool got to play first and with City having a tough away match against Chelsea later in the day it was a great chance for Liverpool to turn the tables and sit at the top of the table as City walked out onto the pitch. The day could hardly have panned out any better for Liverpool fans, maybe had Manchester United lost it would have been perfect but you can't ask for everything. Liverpool did exactly what they needed and romped to a 0-4 victory against Bournemouth with Mo Salah as good as he ever was knocking in three goals helping Liverpool remain undefeated after 16 league games. It was then all eyes on Stamford Bridge and a late first-half goal for Chelsea, completely against the run of play spurred them on to hand City their first defeat of the season meaning they'd remain 1 point behind Liverpool who would remain top of the league.
With the recent spate of injuries for Liverpool and a congested fixture list, Jurgen Klopp had to re-shuffle his pack and made several changes once again. James Milner, playing his 500th Premier League game was switched to right-back with Joel Matip partnering Van Dijk in the centre and Andy Robertson coming back into the side on the left. In midfield Keita, Fabinho and Shaqiri played meaning all 4 of Liverpool's summer signings were together on the pitch and Gini Wijnaldum completed the midfield while Firmino and Mo Salah lead the team up front. Klopp didn't seem to have the players sticking to any particular formation as it seemed to alternate from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1 and even 4-3-1-2 and I think that helped Liverpool win so convincingly as Bournemouth seemed to struggle to keep up with where Liverpool's forwards were going to appear next. Bournemouth were coming in off the back of a hard-fought win against Huddersfield and suffered a huge blow with their main striker Callum Wilson not managing to overcome a slight hamstring strain in time to play meaning would switch to a central forward role rather than out wide on the left where he had been so dangerous all season.
Liverpool started the game well and attacked from the off but initially found it difficult to find a finishing touch to their attacks. Shaqiri was looking sharp and played in a great ball over the top to Salah who couldn't bring it under control. For all Liverpool's control, it was actually Bournemouth who had the best chance to score first when in the 23rd minute Stanislas cut inside and then played a ball through to Brooks who struck it towards the front post but was denied by Alisson who made a good save. That may have been a wakeup call for Liverpool as within a minute they were back on the attack and this time made it count. Roberto Firmino took a shot on from outside the box that was saved by Begovic, he couldn't hold onto the ball though and only parried it away and it was tucked away by the oncoming Mo Salah who was first on the scene to follow up the shot. There was a slice of fortune with the goal though as replays show that when Firmino hit the ball Salah had already begun his run and was offside, however, the linesman did not flag and the goal stood meaning Liverpool were ahead and that is how the scoreline would stay until the end of the first half.
Just a couple of minutes into the second half and Liverpool were on the attack again, Firmino won the ball back on the halfway line and sent Salah on his way towards goal with just Nathan Ake and the goalkeeper between him and a 2nd goal. Salah burst forward and had his heel clipped by Steve Cook who tried to keep up with him but Salah managed to stay on his feet and carry the ball into the box. He seemed to wait until Ake made his move with an attempted tackle before knocking it on once more and then placing the ball across the keeper and into the far corner of the goal. It was the Mo Salah of old showing tremendous pace and a quality finish that he made look effortless. It had seemed to be coming with his previous displays against Everton and Burnley but Mo Salah looks back to his best and Liverpool lead by 0-2. Bournemouth did not give up despite going 2 behind but never managed to carve out any quality chances while Liverpool continued to push for a 3rd. In the 68th minute they did just that, the ball was switched over the left by Salah and played to Fabinho who sprayed the ball wide to Robertson who'd bombed forward, he played in one of his trademark low crosses into the danger area towards 3 Liverpool players who were lining up to put the ball into the goal. It never got that far though as Cook made a desperate run back to help defend and intercepted the ball on its way but directed it into his own goal to make the score 0-3 to Liverpool.
Ten minutes later on the 76th minute, Liverpool added the cherry onto the top of the cake. Substitute Adam Lallana controlled a ball from a throw-in on his chest and then lobbed it forward over the top for Mo Salah to chase. It was a one on one race between Salah and Cook and there was only going to be one winner! Salah raced to the ball first and then evaded the last-ditch challenge the defender attempted in desperation. Salah was now left one on one with Begovic on the edge of the penalty area and the Bournemouth keeper came off his line to challenge but the Liverpool forward breezed past him. He carried the ball wide and by this time Ake had got back and positioned himself on the goal line to try and block the incoming shot, but Salah resisted the urge to shoot and instead brought the ball under control and switched it to his right foot taking it past Begovic once more before finally slotting the ball past the helpless defenders on the line and into the corner of the goal. The game was well and truly over now at 0-4 and Mo Salah was going home with the match ball as a souvenir for grabbing his third goal of the game.
It was a great result and the first game in a while that Liverpool looked in control throughout, thanks to the Chelsea result Liverpool are now ahead by 1 point and the only team remaining that has yet to be beaten in the league after 16 games. They may not have looked this great in all of the 15 previous games but it finally seems like Mo Salah is back to his prolific best while the midfielders that were brought in over the summer also seem to be coming good. It all couldn't be happening at a better time for Liverpool as they have a massive week ahead that could have a tremendous impact on how the rest of the season goes. Next, they turn their attention to the Champions League with a must-win match against Napoli before hosting fierce rivals Manchester United next Sunday.