Darwin Nunez repaid Arne Slot’s faith by opening his account for the new campaign in spectacular fashion.
Just a day after being told by the Liverpool boss he must ‘work hard’ to get back into the starting line-up, the 25-year-old dazzled in the 3-0 win against Bournemouth.
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Liverpool striker Nunez scored his first goal of the season in stunning fashionCredit: Getty
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Reds boss Slot was left shocked by the epic effort into the far cornerCredit: Premier League
With the Reds 2-0 up courtesy of Luis Diaz’s quickfire double, Nunez put the Merseyside outfit three to the good in the 37th minute thanks to a stunning strike.
Combining with Mohamed Salah down the right flank, the Uruguay international then cut inside the box, before unleashing a bending left-footed shot into the far corner.
The relief and emotion was there for all to see as Nunez run to the corner flag to celebrate, where he was mobbed by his jubilant teammates, on his first league start of the season.
And Slot was every Liverpool fan watching on, with the Dutchman turning around to his coaching staff with his hands on his head in disbelief.
Fans were loving his reaction, as one X user said: “Arne Slot’s reaction to Darwin Nunez goal is PRICELESS..”
Another quipped: “He can’t believe he hit the target.”
A third added: “What a goal! Arne Slot’s reaction after the goal says it all.”
Prior to Nunez’s start against the Cherries, the ex-Benfica striker had been limited to just 62 minutes of Premier League action spread across three games.
But his opening 45 minutes will show Slot that he is more than capable of leading the line for Liverpool.
His effort not only had the Liverpool fans on their feet, but also talkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney, who was watching on inside Anfield.
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Nunes’s strike from just inside the box smashed in off the post and into the back of the net
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He looked emotional after opening his account for the new campaignCredit: AFP
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It was a stunning move and individual effort
Speaking on talkSPORT commentary at Anfield, the ex-Watford striker said: “I think that is excellent centre-forward play.
“He has all the attributes, he wins the ball down the line, he has no right to win that, he wins the flick-on into Salah.
“He then gets onto his own flick-on with Salah giving it to him back, he chops inside onto his weak foot.
Adrian Durham rips into Arne Slots tactics after historic loss to Nottingham Forest
“And then it’s just about composing yourself, feel it, and he’s just felt it with his left foot, post and in.
“And you can hear this place, he needed that, they needed that, what a goal, and that’s why he got a standing ovation from me.”
Liverpool welcome Bournemouth to Merseyside as Premier League football returns to Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds kicked off their season with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea last weekend while Bournemouth shared the points with West Ham.
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Liverpool took the lead against Chelsea but were pegged backCredit: Getty
Jurgen Klopp’s side now return home and will be hoping to claim their first win of the season with memories of this fixture last campaign fresh in the memory.
The hosts humiliated the Cherries, winning 9-0 in a historic victory that saw Scott Parker sacked three days later.
Andoni Iraola will be hoping his side can get revenge for that defeat and that he won’t experience a similar fate to Parker this time around.
Liverpool vs Bournemouth: How to follow
This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, August 19.
Kick-off at Anfield is scheduled for 3pm.
Due to the 3pm blackout in the UK, the game will not be available to watch.
talkSPORT will provide updates of all the action from Anfield with Adrian Durham.
Subs: Radu, Mepham, Kluivert, Moore, Traore, Hill, Brooks, Kilkenny, Kenny
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The Cherries came away with a point on the opening dayCredit: Getty Images
Liverpool vs Bournemouth: What has been said?
With Liverpool being turned down Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, the Reds are in a desperate situation in the transfer market and according to former star Carragher, their current predicament is ‘a joke’.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher said: “It leaves Liverpool in a pretty difficult place.
“They need to sign someone in midfield and people know that they’re desperate. They put a bid in for Lavia today for £60million when they refused to pay £50million just four or five days ago.
“It’s been an absolute mess – it’s a joke.
“The biggest problem is that Liverpool have known they need midfield reinforcements since August last year, so 12 months ago.”
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Endo is set to sign for Liverpool
Liverpool vs Bournemouth: Match facts
New signing Dominik Szoboszlai created more chances (3) and made more off-the-ball runs into the box (6) than any other Liverpool player on his debut against Chelsea on MD1.
Patrick Kluivert scored for Newcastle away against Liverpool in December 2004. If his son Justin Kluivert scores for Bournemouth here, they would be the second father/son duo to score a Premier League goal against the Reds at Anfield after Ian Wright and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored eight goals in eight Premier League appearances against Bournemouth, though he didn’t score in either meeting with the Cherries last season.
After a run of failing to score in six out of seven Premier League home games between January and March 2021, Liverpool have now only failed to score in one of their last 42 at Anfield – a goalless draw with Chelsea in January last season.
Bournemouth had the second lowest possession average (40%) and the lowest shots-per-game average (9.4) in the Premier League last season. On MD1 against West Ham, the Cherries had 14 shots while enjoying 63% possession.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League games, the longest current run in the division (W7 D5). However, each of their last three matches have finished level, with the Reds last drawing four consecutive league games in January 2008.
Liverpool haven’t lost their first Premier League home game in any of the last 19 seasons, since a 2-1 loss against Chelsea in 2003-04. In fact, Liverpool haven’t lost any of their 19 home league games in August/September under Jürgen Klopp (W16 D3).
Bournemouth have kept just one clean sheet in their 12 Premier League meetings with Liverpool, conceding 36 goals in the process (3 per game). However, that one shutout was in a 1-0 victory in their most recent meeting with the Reds in March.
Bournemouth have never won away against Liverpool in any competition (D1 L8), with a 2-2 draw in April 2017 the only time they’ve avoided defeat at Anfield.
Liverpool have won five of their six home league games against Bournemouth (D1), including a 9-0 victory in this exact fixture last season.
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