Roberto Firmino Liverpool 2022Getty

What crisis?! Liverpool's winners, losers and ratings vs Bournemouth as Klopp's men equal record for goal margin

Crisis? What crisis?

Liverpool belatedly kick-started their campaign in style on Saturday, recording their biggest ever Premier League win with a 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth at Anfield. It equalled the record for best win margin in a match in Premier League history.

After a difficult week, in which questions had been asked of their motivation, desire and attitude, Jurgen Klopp’s side provided the perfect answer to their critics with a dazzling display in the sunshine.

Article continues below

The Reds scored five times in the opening 45 minutes, Luis Diaz heading them into the lead before Harvey Elliott and Trent Alexander-Arnold extended it with strikes from outside the box.

The brilliant Roberto Firmino added a fourth from close-range, and Virgil van Dijk headed in another from a corner as Scott Parker’s side had no answer to the home side’s intensity and quality. 

Klopp’s team, quite simply, were unrecognisable from the one which had stumbled its way through the previous three weeks, and added a sixth immediately after half-time when Alexander-Arnold’s cross was diverted into his own net by Chris Mepham. 

Firmino then grabbed his second before substitute Fabio Carvalho netted his first Reds goal, volleying home in front of the Kop.

There was still time for more, Diaz heading in Kostas Tsimikas’ late corner as the delirious home fans chanted ‘we want 10’. They didn't get their wish in the end, but this was a performance - and a result - they could barely have dreamed of when they woke up on Saturday morning.