Liverpool surged to the Premier League summit after Luis Diaz scored twice in a convincing 3-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth.
Visiting forward Antoine Semenyo saw an early strike overturned for offside following a VAR review before one-way traffic ensued in the first half at Anfield, with Diaz twice on target.
The Colombia winger profited from Kepa Arrizabalaga’s slack positioning for the opener before finishing through the legs of the Bournemouth goalkeeper just two minutes and two seconds later.
Darwin Nunez added an eye-catching third with a brilliant strike before the break as Arne Slot’s side responded in style to their 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest last time out in the competition.
Saturday’s routine win moves Liverpool, at least temporarily, to top spot before Sunday’s heavyweight encounter between Manchester City and Arsenal, while Bournemouth drop to 13th spot.
The Anfield crowd were silenced just three minutes in after Semenyo turned home Justin Kluivert’s cross, only for the goal to be overturned for offside after a VAR review.
That wake-up call kicked the Reds into gear, though, with Diaz rounding the onrushing Kepa and finishing after bringing down Ibrahima Konate’s long punt forward on 26 minutes.
Diaz fired a second past Kepa soon following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s driving run, for the latter’s 100th goal involvement in all competitions for Liverpool (81 assists, 19 goals).
Nunez then curled a wonderful left-footed effort only nine minutes later as Slot’s side went in 3-0 up at the break.
Liverpool were unable to add to their tally in the second half, with Mohamed Salah going closest with a low effort that was cleared off the line by Milos Kerkez.
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth almost found a late consolation when Luis Sinisterra twice tested Caoimhin Kelleher – the second of the chances deflecting off the crossbar as Liverpool fortuitously preserved their clean sheet.
