A CANTER TO QATAR
Reds can cope with fixture pile-up before their crack at World Club Cup
IT may be the time of year for giving but Liverpool are in no mood to show any Christmas charity to their title rivals.
Jurgen Klopp’s runaway leaders stretched their advantage at the Premier League summit to 11 points – for 24 hours at least – courtesy of a comfortable stroll on the south coast.
Excellent first-half strikes from Alex Oxlade-chamberlain and Naby Keita, plus another after the break from magnificent Mo Salah (celebrating left, with his skipper Jordan Henderson) put depleted Bournemouth to the sword.
And having watched his team make light work of the first of seven games in 21 days, grinning Klopp was in a seriously festive mood.
Asked if the idea is to be like Scrooge in December – and give nothing away to the chasing pack – the Reds supremo joked: “Christmas is after Qatar. I’m sorry but I can’t think that far ahead.
“It was a super performance. Super individual performances and the team performance was really mature and professional, which is what we needed. From 3-0 on, we controlled the game absolutely – so nothing really happens any more.
“The players didn’t like it too much, but I didn’t want to see any unnecessary risks.”
Of course, the German would love his Champions League holders to reach the knockout stages. A point in Salzburg this week will settle that, before Liverpool have a decent crack at the World Club Cup in Qatar.
However, those competitions, and the Carabao Cup, mean nothing to the Anfield masses this season.
No way. The only thing that counts is Klopp’s class of 2019 –
now unbeaten in 33 league games – end 29 years of title hell by lifting the big one.
Judging by this canter, and a first clean sheet in 15, they have little to fear despite the hectic holiday fixture list.
Klopp underlined the importance of this clash, making seven changes from the side that thumped Everton
5-2 in midweek.
Bar Trent Alexander-arnold and
Sadio Mane starting on the bench, it was, arguably, his strongest starting side.
Which was not the news his opposite number Eddie Howe wanted. After all, while Liverpool are unstoppable, the hosts kicked off having lost four on the bounce.
Equally worrying for a team starved of goals, top scorer Harry Wilson was unavailable due to being on loan from Liverpool.
Things went from bad to worse in the 32nd minute when their pillar at the back, Nathan Ake pulled a hamstring denying Salah.
Before young substitute Jack Simpson and his centre-back partner Chris Mepham had adjusted, Bournemouth were undone by Henderson’s superb ball for Oxlade-chamberlain’s opening goal.
Mepham was napping as the England midfielder’s pin-point pass flew over him – and the Ox converted with a beautiful firsttime volley.
By the break it was almost game over as Alexander-arnold, on for injured Dejan Lovren, set up Keita for his sharply-taken effort.
On 53 minutes, though, it really was wrapped up when Salah capped his sizzling display with the killer third.
Understandably, worried Howe (left) said: “The game seemed to hinge on Nath’s injury.
To concede seconds later was a hammer blow. We have to end this run of defeats, so our long injury list is a huge concern.
“I am not sure many clubs could cope with the numbers we are missing. This is the biggest challenge we’ve faced in the Premier League.”
BOURNEMOUTH: Ramsdale 6, Francis 5, Mepham 5, Ake 7 (Simpson 33, 5), Rico 5, Fraser 6, Lerma 5, Billing 5 (L Cook 58, 6), Groeneveld 6, Solanke 5, C Wilson 5 (Golsing 65, 6).
Subs not used: Boruc, Surman, Ibe, Stacey
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 7, Gomez 7, Lovren 6,
Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7 (Jones 76, 6), Milner 8, Henderson 8, Keita 8, Salah 9, Firmino 7, Oxlade-chamberlain 7.
Subs not used: Mane, Adrian, Shaqiri, Origi, Elliott
MAN OF THE MATCH: Mo Salah. The Egyptian king looks fully fit – and back to brilliant best.
REFEREE: Chris Kavanagh 7.