With 5 targets in 5 video games, Luis Diaz is reaping the rewards of Arne Slot’s quiet evolution

Liverpool are prime of the league. But when that will solely be for a day, extra considerably, Liverpool are again on monitor. The tame residence defeat to Nottingham Forest seems to be extra of a one-game anomaly. After three goals in San Siro got here three at Anfield. As Bournemouth had been overwhelmed, like AC Milan earlier than them, per week that started badly for Arne Slot has featured a powerful response.

And a hit story of his fantastic begin once more illustrated Slot’s early influence. When the ultimate whistle blew, Erling Haaland remained the Premier League’s runaway prime scorer. To date, so predictable. What reasonably fewer would have anticipated when the season began was that Luis Diaz was his closest challenger. At occasions in his Liverpool profession, the Colombian had supplied every thing however the targets. Now he has 5 in as many league matches for Slot: that common of 1 per recreation comes after a return of worse than one each 4 for the membership earlier than then.

A win made in South America additionally included Darwin Nunez’s first for Slot, as he made his maiden begin below the Dutchman. However it was decided by Diaz’s two-minute double. Cody Gakpo was terrific in opposition to AC Milan however, 4 days later, Diaz was restored to the staff. The destroyer of Manchester United was equally dynamic. There’s a thrilling directness to Diaz, an explosiveness that stems from a willingness to run past defenders, to let fly from each lengthy distances and acute angles. What there had not all the time been was an finish product.

However Slot has voiced his confidence that his forwards all the time rating. Diaz could also be used to assist his case. He had already began tormenting Julian Araujo earlier than a swift brace confirmed his capacity to flee from the right-back.

His opener was exceptional. The 70-yard ball represents a rarity, particularly as an help. Ibrahima Konate supplied the form of cross it appeared solely Trent Alexander-Arnold might play. Diaz was the beneficiary, Kepa Arrizabalaga was embarrassed, dashing into no-man’s land as Diaz darted past the defence to take down a Konate cross that sailed over the opposite 18 outfield gamers, evade the goalkeeper and beat the retreating Araujo along with his shot.

Then got here an precise Alexander-Arnold help: a driving, diagonal run started in his personal half, ended with him having the composure to search out the unmarked Diaz, who slotted his shot below Arrizabalaga.

By that stage, a day that started nicely for the world’s most costly goalkeeper had taken a flip for the more serious. The on-loan Chelsea participant had saved from every of Liverpool’s entrance three inside 1 / 4 of an hour, denying Diaz once more following a scintillating surge.

At fault for his first, he regarded culpable once more when overwhelmed by a rocket from the fitting flank from Nunez, fired along with his left foot. It raised questions on Bournemouth’s knowledge in dispatching Neto on mortgage to Arsenal to herald Arrizabalaga. Liverpool ended with 13 photographs on course, however the subject was not Arrizabalaga’s save proportion.

For Nunez, there might be reduction a drought had ended. This was his first aim in 15 Liverpool video games: even the earlier one got here from charging down a clearance in opposition to Sheffield United. With Diogo Jota rested, he took his alternative.

Liverpool’s vibrancy might have yielded extra targets. Mohamed Salah had a shot cleared off the road by Milos Kerkez. Federico Chiesa got here on for his residence debut and struck the foot of the publish, albeit when the offside flag was raised.

The primary to search out the online, nevertheless, had been Bournemouth. Liverpool had an early reprieve when Antoine Semenyo was marginally and needlessly offside earlier than he touched in Justin Kluivert’s low cross. Thereafter, Bournemouth, who misplaced 9-0 at Anfield two seasons in the past and have a lone level on the bottom of their historical past, could not have been stunned at what adopted.

Bournemouth went 2-0 down on their earlier journey to Merseyside and recovered to win 3-2. This time, they went 2-0 down and had been quickly 3-0 behind. There was no coming again; this was not Goodison Park. Liverpool aren’t Everton.

And contemporary from a Premier League recreation with a report variety of yellow playing cards, Bournemouth had Ryan Christie booked inside 25 seconds and supervisor Andoni Iraola cautioned for dissent inside 25 minutes.

His aspect had been nonetheless progressive sufficient to complete with 18 photographs, even when too few had been correct. Caoimhin Kelleher, standing in for the injured Alisson, was not unduly examined earlier than he made a fantastic save from the substitute Luis Sinisterra. In a late flurry, Bournemouth hit the bar. And but it was a postscript. The sport had been determined by Diaz’s brilliance. Not for the primary time, both.