WHAT’S THE KEITA Liverpool’s bid for success on five fronts?
It’s Jurgen Klopp’s so-far faultless use of his incredible resources, which include £60m midfielder Naby Keita.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opened the scoring as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-0Credit: Getty Images
The Guinea international was one of seven changes to the side that had thumped Everton in the Merseyside derby.
Keita scored one and made another on his first Premier League start of the season as the Reds ensured they will go into their crucial Champions League match in Salzburg at least eight points clear at the top of the table.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose own injury problems have made him a support player like Keita, scored the first to break Bournemouth’s resistance.
Mo Salah played wonderful one-two with Keita to create the second and then grabbed one of his own, from a Keita assist, to kill the game early in the second half.
Naby Keita made it 2-0 after some clever play with Mo SalahCredit: Reuters
Liverpool’s victory extended their unbeaten league run to 33 games and made it five Premier League defeats on the bounce for Bournemouth – their worst run since March 2013, when they were still in League One.
Eddie Howe’s side held their own for the first 34 minutes, restricting Liverpool to one Salah shot that Aaron Ramsdale saved comfortably.
But a reshuffle in the so-far excellent Cherries defence, after Nathan Ake had pulled up with a hamstring problem, seemed to undo Howe’s side.
In the Reds’ next attack, Jordan Henderson clipped a pass into the penalty area, where Oxlade-Chamberlain was on the wrong side of Chris Mepham and stretched out a leg to force the ball into the net.
Salah himself got on the scoresheet to make it 3-0Credit: AFP
Liverpool’s second goal was far more pleasing on the eye. The ball was worked to Keita, who fed Salah and then ran on to the exquisite backheel to put the visitors completely in command.
Any doubts whether the game was over disappeared early in the second half when the same two players reversed roles for the third.
Bournemouth sub Jack Simpson gave the ball away and Keita pounced.
The Guinea international found Salah with a pinpoint through ball and the Egyptian did what he’s been doing regularly for two and a bit seasons now.
Dejan Lovren suffered an injury scare as he limped off in the first halfCredit: Getty Images
Liverpool controlled the remainder of the game and the only downside was the loss of Dejan Lovren to injury in the first half.
If they can avoid defeat in Salzburg without him and so progress to the knockout stages, Klopp’s side will be set fair for the Club World Cup later this month.
And with this momentum, maybe their kids will do for Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, too.
Jurgen Klopp was delighted to see his team open up an 11-point gap at the top of the tableCredit: Getty Images
Virgil Van Dijk Ballon d’or runner up says we should all be proud of what we achieved
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
