Happy Monday Reds. Yet another week where we are waking up with a spring in our step thanks to the rampant reds who were imperious on the South Coast on Sunday evening. Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were both at the double as we dispatched Bournemouth 4-0 and moved to five points clear at the summit of the Premier League.
Heading into the game, we certainly had questions about this game and whether it was a banana skin especially with Bournemouth’s recent form and also Dominic Solanke who is in the form of his life. We have been here before, an away game in which we are expected to win. And so many times we have left underwhelmed from a poor performance. This game in its first part was certainly heading that same way. We were unable to sustain any dangerous attacks or pile pressure onto Bournemouth who were resilient, looking to hurt us on the break. You start to think about Luton away earlier on in the season whereby we were not great and we got punished. But then, the reds make you look silly for even having doubts as they produce a scintilating second half performance.
We were so much quicker in attack. We had an urgency to our play. And we got our just rewards. Nunez, who has been heavily criticised since he joined Liverpool, once again was proving the doubters wrong with two stunning finishes. “Nunez, Nunez, Nunez” bellowing from the away end. I cannot think of a player who has been this adored by the travelling kop in a long time and our trust and patience with Nunez is certainly paying off. He is a constant menace with his speed and his unpredictability and with some fine tuning to his finishing there is absolutely no reason why he cannot become a 20 plus goalscorer in the Premier League. For all his critics, he is the first Premier League player to register 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions so far this season.
Then Jota. We have got to talk about him. I see Jamie Carragher comparing his finishing to the likes of Robbie Fowler and Luis Suarez amongst others. And it is hard to disagree. Whilst he cannot play a 5 yard pass, his finishing is so deadly that he almost forces himself into the team even if he lacks the basics almost. His two goals yesterday are by no means easy, even though he makes it look so. We have a serious goalscoring machine on our hands in Jota and whilst Mohamed Salah recovers from his injury playing for Egypt I believe we can rely on the Portuguese man to keep us firing up front.
Of course the goalscorers are going to steal the headlines but I thought it was such a mature and controlled performance from the whole team. There was never any panic even at 0-0 going into the second half. That just goes to show the maturity and the assurance we have in the dressing room. Even with three of our five leaders missing yesterday. The defence was rock solid again, and we never even looked like conceding if truth be told. I cannot remember Alisson ever being tested.
The partnership that Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have formed for me has gone under the radar. I think the blend between Van Dijk’s calmness and almost arrogance with Ibou Konate’s aggression is perfect. You have got one centre back spraying the ball effortlessly with the other ready to throw his body wherever means necessary. Long may it continue.
Just finally, I want to comment on the younger lads in the squad yesterday. Our bench had its oldest player, Cody Gakpo, at 24 years old. Unbelievable to think the talent we have at our football club and the actual youthfulness too. Conor Bradley making his Premier League debut and you would not even think it. He was boss. Never looked out of place and was in for a tough 90 minutes up against a tricky player in Sinisterra. Harvey Elliott, whilst notching up his 100th league game yesterday, is still only 20 years old and he was fantastic yesterday. A lot said about whether he could play in a Jurgen Klopp midfield and I think yesterday was a fine showing that he absolutely can. His work off the ball was superb and so many times he was leading our press from the front. Good to see Kaide Gordon, Bobby Clark and Owen Beck get minutes too. Whilst we have a catalogue of injuries at the moment, I think the young lads are performing superbly because the demand to win every single game can be intense but the challenge seems to be being relished.
No rest for the wicked. They’ve had their break, a short one at that. But now it is back to Carabao Cup action on Wednesday night away to Fulham. Hopefully finishing the job and seeing ourselves with a lovely trip to Wembley. I hope you have enjoyed the rationale. Please get your thoughts in the comments, it would be massively appreciated.
Jota captain in fpl happy days