Liverpool equaled the Premier League’s biggest win in history with a thrashing of newly promoted Bournemouth at Anfield on the opening day of the season.
Jurgen Klopp had described his team’s start to the season as a “false start” after two draws and Monday night’s defeat at Manchester United, but the Reds responded in truly stunning fashion.
Manchester United achieved that margin of victory twice, once against Ipswich in 1995 and again last year against Southampton, and Leicester City did the same against the Saints in 2019.
Liverpool got off to a flying start against the Cherries, scoring two goals in the first five minutes to send a raucous Anfield into a frenzy.
Harvey Elliott curled in his first top-flight goal with a sublime strike from outside the box, and Luis Diaz rose to head home.
Trent Alexander-Arnold smashed a long-range shot into the top corner, with Roberto Firmino assisting on all three goals.
On the half-hour mark, the Brazilian forward acrobatically converted from inside the six-yard box, and Virgil van Dijk headed in the fifth from a corner – all before half-time.
Scott Parker’s men’s woes worsened in the first minute of the second half when Chris Mepham stretched to divert the ball into his own net and Firmino poked home his seventh goal of the afternoon.
Summer signing Fabio Carvalho volleyed in with eight minutes left for number eight and Diaz headed in the ninth to complete an incredible, historic win.
For Bournemouth, the rout was their third consecutive league defeat without scoring a goal after beating Aston Villa in their opening game.
