Liverpool overcame Mohamed Salah’s absence to go five points ahead at the top of the Premier League, with Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez scoring twice in a 4-0 victory against Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Reds’ championship credentials will be challenged while their best player is overseas with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations.
However, Jota and Nunez stepped up to be counted, securing a crucial victory against one of the Premier League’s top teams.
Bournemouth had only lost once in their previous nine games, allowing them to easily avoid relegation.
The Cherries were kept at arm’s length in the first half, but Jurgen Klopp’s side cranked on the flair after the interval.
The visitors were limited to pot shots in an opening period devoid of obvious opportunities.
Alexis MacAllister and Nunez tried Neto from a considerable distance.
But the game swung on one moment of brilliance from Liverpool, who broke the stalemate on 49 minutes.
Jota’s first-time ball put Nunez in the clear, and the Uruguayan demonstrated the composure he has lacked in his Liverpool career to far, slotting into the far corner.
Substitute Cody Gakpo then set up Jota for a close-range shot 20 minutes later, bringing the game to a conclusion.
Jota was more lucky with his second, as the Portuguese fumbled his first effort from Conor Bradley’s cross, allowing the ball to sit up for a second attempt, which he blasted low and hard across Neto.
Nunez had only scored once in his previous 16 Liverpool outings, the winner against Bournemouth in the League Cup in early November.
The confidence he earned from scoring earlier in the half was evident as he slipped in superbly to meet Joe Gomez’s cross and finish a fantastic day for Liverpool in stoppage time.
Manchester City has a game in hand on their championship opponents, which allows them to reduce Liverpool’s lead to two points.
However, following a disappointing season in which Klopp’s side finished fifth last year, there is no question that they are once again the greatest danger to City’s title.Liverpool overcame Mohamed Salah’s absence to go five points ahead at the top of the Premier League, with Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez scoring twice in a 4-0 victory against Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Reds’ championship credentials will be challenged while their best player is overseas with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations.
However, Jota and Nunez stepped up to be counted, securing a crucial victory against one of the Premier League’s top teams.
Bournemouth had only lost once in their previous nine games, allowing them to easily avoid relegation.
The Cherries were kept at arm’s length in the first half, but Jurgen Klopp’s side cranked on the flair after the interval.
The visitors were limited to pot shots in an opening period devoid of obvious opportunities.
Alexis MacAllister and Nunez tried Neto from a considerable distance.
But the game swung on one moment of brilliance from Liverpool, who broke the stalemate on 49 minutes.
Jota’s first-time ball put Nunez in the clear, and the Uruguayan demonstrated the composure he has lacked in his Liverpool career to far, slotting into the far corner.
Substitute Cody Gakpo then set up Jota for a close-range shot 20 minutes later, bringing the game to a conclusion.
Jota was more lucky with his second, as the Portuguese fumbled his first effort from Conor Bradley’s cross, allowing the ball to sit up for a second attempt, which he blasted low and hard across Neto.
Nunez had only scored once in his previous 16 Liverpool outings, the winner against Bournemouth in the League Cup in early November.
The confidence he earned from scoring earlier in the half was evident as he slipped in superbly to meet Joe Gomez’s cross and finish a fantastic day for Liverpool in stoppage time.
Manchester City has a game in hand on their championship opponents, which allows them to reduce Liverpool’s lead to two points.
However, following a disappointing season in which Klopp’s side finished fifth last year, there is no question that they are once again the greatest danger to City’s title.