In what was quite frankly a bonkers afternoon, it was left to Jurgen Klopp to somehow provide context to a historic contest to Liverpool's 9-0 win over Bournemouth.
The sixth biggest victory in Liverpool’s entire history, their best ever in the Premier League, equalling that competition’s record scoreline….which also equalled their record top-flight win.
Yet perhaps the most important statistic of all, was that Klopp’s side recorded their first win of the season after four matches. It was no wonder when asked to sum up the victory in one word, he replied: “Needed.” That was perhaps the manager’s way of politely suggesting it was such a one off as a game, meaning there was little point in trying to read too much in it.
Bournemouth actually fielded a team considerably weaker than their Championship side of last season, and they were so out of their depth, you just felt sorry for them. For Liverpool, on the other hand, everything that could go their way, did. And about time too, some of their fans would say, given their misfortune at the end of last season and the start of this.
Nine goals is magnificent no matter the opposition, and no matter that Bournemouth didn’t just fall to pieces, they imploded like a supernova falling into a black hole. When Klopp said needed, he meant more than just the victory. He meant he needed to see a response from his players after the poor performance at Manchester United. He needed to see the real Liverpool. And boy did he see it. An intensity in midfield - missing in the previous three matches - that was driven by Jordan Henderson and finessed by the exciting young talent of Harvey Elliott. Energy at last, from the full backs, and commitment from the centre halves.
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Then there was the forward line. Luis Diaz just continued his one-man personal crusade of the campaign so far, while Roberto Firmino reminded every single fan who has written him off that he is still a truly elite player in his thinking and movement. Then there was Mohamed Salah. He may have missed a couple to have given Liverpool their greatest ever win, but there was a maturity and intelligence to his game which suggests a new phase to his career.
No wonder that Virgil van Dijk threw off a spikey - to say the least - start to his post match press conference, to make an important point about this Liverpool team which has maintained such impossibly high standards over such a long period. “We are not robots, even if everyone is expecting that we are, but we are not,” he said, with a certain amount of pointed emotion. Van Dijk spoke eloquently about Firmino’s magnificent performance, but really, he could have been speaking about the entire Liverpool side. They were wounded after the start to the season. They were angry. Poor Bournemouth felt that fury.
“Obviously he wants to win, when we don’t win he’s angry and when we win he’s happy,” he said. “That’s how it should be.” The question now is, what will this do for Liverpool’s season. They have players coming back in the next fortnight, but tricky games against Newcastle and derby rivals Everton. Victory in both really could kick start their season, records or not.
