Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Jurgen Klopp insists no plans ‘to humiliate Bournemouth’, just Liverpool being the ‘best version of ourselves’ after nine-goal rout

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp was thrilled to see his Liverpool side look more like they have in previous seasons after they routed sorry Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield on Saturday.

The Reds equalled the biggest victory in Premier League history as they kick-started their season in spectacular fashion by thrashing the newly promoted Cherries on Merseyside.

Klopp claimed his side had made a “false start” to the season after two defeats and the loss to Manchester United. However, they were back to their old selves against Scott Parker’s men.

Roberto Firmino scored two and made three, with a brace too for Luis Diaz. Harvey Elliott’s first Premier League goal, Fabio Carvalho, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and a Chris Mepham own goal completed the scoring.

And speaking after the game, Klopp reacted the remarkable result and performance: “Very good. We wanted to show a reaction. Be ourselves. Getting to be the best version of ourselves. We play a specific way.

“We scored wonderful goals. The game settled and we kept scoring. It was about keep going. Not to humiliate Bournemouth, we couldn’t respect them more. It’s about putting the opponent under pressure.

“I could bring on the kids, they deserve it so much. Harvey is a special player, wonderful goal. Everything was perfect pretty much.”

Klopp cherishing record Liverpool win

On Trent Alexander-Arnold’s goal, Klopp added: “I don’t like it too much when a player is 35 yards away and the whole crowd shout ‘shoooooot’ but in this case it worked out well.

“It’s important to get it off the chest and play football. Wednesday [against Newcastle] will be different. Today the mix of great weather and fantastic football, we don’t have that often at Liverpool so we should cherish it.

“At least we don’t have to answer the question anymore [about not winning]. A really good day for us. We won’t get carried away.

“If we want to be successful in this league we have to show consistency. That’s what we have to do now. That used to be our strength. We’ll watch Newcastle tomorrow and see what we can do against them.”

Trent admits fast start was key

Alexander-Arnold himself added: “We took our chances today. We started really well.

“That’s what we needed to do after Monday. Our aim was to come out of the blocks. We played on the atmosphere here today. We were on the front foot from the first kick.

“It was an outstanding game, an exceptional performance.

On his goal, he said: “Me and Bobby played a nice one-two and I just felt myself creeping to the edge of the box. I heard shouts of ‘hit it’ and I thought why not? I’ve hit it well. It was a good goal. I haven’t seen it back yet. I’m sure I’ll see it on Twitter in a minute.”

“It wasn’t the start to tje season we hoped for. Three disappointing results. At home, nice weather, we knew the atmosphere would be there. We had a point to prove. We needed to win and we have in a special way.”