‘Sheer torture’: Ruthless Liverpool’s record bloodbath stuns Premier League
Liverpool has obliterated a Premier League rival in a record thrashing that left players “shellshocked” and a manager in “pain”.
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The scary thing is that it should have been more.
Liverpool has put nine past Bournemouth in a record Premier League bloodbath on Sunday morning (AEST) at Anfield.
Manager Jurgen Klopp described it as a “perfect afternoon” for his team as they equalled the record for the biggest Premier League win by thrashing Bournemouth 9-0.
Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz both scored twice with strikes from Harvey Elliott, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Fabio Carvalho and a Chris Mepham own goal completing the scoring.
It is the fourth time in Premier League history a team has won by nine goals. Manchester United beat Ipswich 9-0 in 1995 and Southampton by the same score last year. Leicester also won 9-0 at Southampton in 2019.
It is the first time Liverpool has scored nine goals in a single top-flight game since September 1989.
Bournemouth manager Scott Parker apologised to fans after the game and said his players had been “shellshocked”.
“I’m disappointed with the result, I’m disappointed for the fans who have travelled here, and I’m disappointed for the players that this is where we are the moment in time,” he said.
“The players, everyone, need a little bit of help. Today just proved too big a challenge, the levels — a clinical team and the intensity of the stadium - were far too big. It was a real humbling experience.
“I’m pretty shellshocked, the players are pretty shellshocked. It’s my job to lift this group now, we need to dust this aside because there could be psychological elements after this defeat.”
He went on to say the result will cause his team to have a “sleepless night” reflecting on the nightmare day.
“This is the toughest and most painful day I have experienced for sure,” he said.
“The touchline today was painful and I could sense it was for the players too. They need some help and in some moments the levels were too great.
“It was a really humbling experience, shellshocking.
“Tonight will be a long, sleepless night reflecting and a difficult one to process. We are learning really harsh lessons which at times are unfair.
“We don’t just talk about Liverpool or the two previous fixtures, this division is ruthless. It can leave some scars, the experiences they are facing. Painful, absolutely painful and Liverpool were ruthless.”
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin told the BBC Liverpool could have put 14 on them.
“You sometimes take the brilliance for granted, it was sheer torture for Bournemouth,” he said.
“Fabio Carvalho would walk into any position in the forward line and look at home. He is that good.
“Nine goals and it could have been 12, 13 14, that is not an exaggeration. Everything went perfectly and Bournemouth will hope they never have another day like this.”
The result was all the more remarkable given Liverpool, who just months ago came within two games of an unprecedented quadruple, had made their worst league start in a decade.
Klopp’s side silenced the critics as they registered their first victory of the season at the fourth attempt.
“Each manager in the world is a fantastic entertainer when you win football games. When you have to answer questions after you lose a game and try to find explanations, it sounds like excuses or whatever,” Klopp said.
“We were not happy with the way we played. We had good moments in nearly all the games where we showed things which we are strong at, and other things where we have to improve.
“You get this early goal and you get the second. And we kept going, scored different goals but always with the same purpose: keep going, put them under pressure, don’t stop.
“At half-time it was important that we, again, keep going because it’s early in the season.
“It’s not for us now to control it a little bit. In the end it was the perfect football afternoon for us.”
Fabinho returned to stiffen up Liverpool’s midfield in the wake of Monday’s 2-1 defeat away to Manchester United that left them five points back of reigning champions Manchester City.
Having struggled without the departed Sadio Mane in their first three games, Liverpool’s attack instantly clicked Saturday as Firmino floated in a cross for Diaz to head home inside three minutes.
The Brazilian also played his part in the second as his heavy touch rolled invitingly towards Elliott, the 19-year-old curling in from the edge of the area for his first top-flight goal.
Mohamed Salah forced Mark Travers to tip over and somehow glanced wide when Elliott fizzed a cross towards the Egyptian, but the respite was temporary for Scott Parker’s overmatched side.
After repeatedly being targeted in the United defeat, Alexander-Arnold displayed his undoubted quality with a thumping drive into the top corner from 20 metres.
Firmino then got in on the act as Salah’s attempted pass looped wickedly off a Bournemouth player and right to the Brazilian to stab in from close range.
Ryan Christie grazed the post in a rare chance for Bournemouth, who were powerless to stop the Liverpool onslaught.
Van Dijk headed in Andy Robertson’s corner on the stroke of half-time as Liverpool scored five goals in the opening half of a Premier League game for the first time.
The Reds struck again a minute into the second period as Mepham poked Alexander-Arnold’s cross into his own net.
Firmino reached 100 Liverpool goals by reacting quickest to pounce on the loose ball after Robertson swung in a dangerous delivery that Travers could only parry.
Portuguese teenager Carvalho fired in to make it eight being teed up by Kostas Tsimikas’ cushioned lay-off, notched his first goal for the club since signing from Fulham.
Diaz then headed in the record-equalling goal with six minutes to play as Liverpool shook off a slow start to the campaign in stunning fashion.
— with AFP
Originally published as ‘Sheer torture’: Ruthless Liverpool’s record bloodbath stuns Premier League
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