Liverpool

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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At their best, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk have as good a partnership as William Saliba and Gabriel of Arsenal.

The numbers did not show that last season because Liverpool played an at times reckless brand of attacking football under Jurgen Klopp - and because Van Dijk's centre-back partner kept changing.

Konate lost his place in the team to Jarell Quansah, a talented, emerging defender, but not someone capable of consistently world-class performances like the Frenchman.

Quansah played 45 minutes against Ipswich Town in the Premier League opener, but has not seen any game time since. Konate has come in and been incredibly good alongside the legendary Van Dijk, who is looking as good as ever and in terms of pure ability, is the best central defender in PL history.

As it is, Konate is so physically imposing. He is fast and strong, but unlike Van Dijk, throws himself into tackles and blocks and is happy to do the dirty stuff. He looks better on the ball, too, registering a terrific assist for Luis Diaz's opener against Bournemouth on Saturday.

He also defended resolutely and is part of a Liverpool backline that has conceded only one goal in five PL matches so far. That is the best record in the country.

Konate's weakness was always his injury record, but he has actually only missed eight games in total over the past two years - and looks as fit as ever right now.

Liverpool's dazzling attackers will continue to get the plaudits, but a title push will be built on the consistency of Van Dijk and Konate's defence.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

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Trent Alexander-Arnold has said his contract negotiations with Liverpool will not be played out in public.

The England international's deal runs out at the end of the season, and asked if he wanted to stay at Anfield for the long term, the 25-year-old said: "I want to be a Liverpool player this season [as a minimum] is what I will say.

"I have been at the club 20 years now. I have signed four or five contract extensions and none of those have been played out in public - and this one won't be either."

Since coming through the ranks, Alexander-Arnold has won the Premier League, a Champions League, one FA Cup and two Carabao Cups and he says he is motivated by the chance to work more silverware.

"The most important thing is trophies if I'm honest," he said. "I want to win trophies, I am a player who is highly motivated by winning things and being elite. If you have a personality that is an elite athlete who will do anything to win, then that is what drives them.

"We were close to the title last season and we got a cup. The quadruple was on for a while - the signs were there. This season we are looking really good. It is still early days, but we need a lot of consistency and to beat a lot of teams.

"Then you have the other cups, the Champions League and everything that comes around it. It will be difficult but we are looking to win as many trophies as we can."

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Stuart: Liverpool put the game to bed in the first half with an imperious display. Caiomhin Kelleher made some incredible saves while deputising for Alisson. Darwin Nunez worked hard and got a nice reward with his goal. Hopefully he can bag another couple against West Ham in midweek!

Alison: A good result, but it was not as easy as it looked. We made problems for ourselves in the first half. If Bournemouth could finish, it might have been a different story and they played well in the second half. Good luck to them for the rest of the season.

Rae: Luis Diaz is on fire. The midfield of Dominic Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Gravenberch seems to be clicking. We have so many options up front. You never know, there might be silverware at some point this season.

Cyrus: Where is the weakness in this team? The midfield was the final fix required post-Jordan Henderson and Fabinho and Slot's double pivot has fixed it. Gravenberch's arrival might be the difference between contenders and champions.

Bournemouth fans

Charl: Andoni, we can't expect to win every game but sometimes just don't lose! Playing Evanilson was pointless - it would have been far better to play stronger players in midfield to prevent the carnage that occurred and gain some confidence from a draw or narrow defeat. All of that said, you have my total support.

Sudha: They played very well. The scoreline doesn't reflect how well they played!

Tom: A 3-0 defeat is still a defeat. We have got lots to learn and not much time to do it in.

Alec: The whole game was thrown away by a ridiculous goalkeeping error for the first goal. Why play a Chelsea reject when we have a better goalkeeper on the bench?

Ben: It was a shame but we were not good enough. We truly believed at one point that we would be playing European football soon. We really need some promising performances against Southampton and Leicester now.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are all interested in Sporting and Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 26. (Teamtalk), external

Meanwhile, Reds full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold's deal runs out next summer and the 25-year-old England international says winning trophies will be a key part of his thinking when it comes to signing a contract extension. (Liverpool Echo), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth

• Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United

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Luis Diaz has scored five goals for Liverpool in their opening five games this season, only Michael Owen in 2000-01 and Mohamed Salah in 2020-21 (both six) have scored more goals for the Reds in the opening five games of a Premier League campaign.

In this game, his first and second goals came within 120 seconds of each other.

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the win: "I think it was a good performance, especially with the ball. Quite a lot of shots on goal, a lot of chances, but not as easy as the score probably looks."

On goalscorer Luis Diaz: "They were really good finishes but it is also important [to look at] what led to the finish. Bournemouth were really aggressive, so [Ibrahima] Konate understood a ball in behind was a good one to take.

"For the second goal, Trent [Alexander-Arnold] made a good run with the ball. Luis finished both off really well."

On forward Darwin Nunez: "We hope we are adding goals [to his game] because that is what you need from a striker, but this work-rate was really good. We have a lot of good players, a lot of competition. As long as they keep performing, it is a very good thing for me."

On Trent Alexander-Arnold: "I'm not surprised he is involved in so many goals because his quality is outstanding, but what I also liked today was how he defended. If he can combine those two things, he makes me really happy.

"It is normal that we win a home game against Bournemouth, but it is a tough schedule and the teams you face are really strong. They made it a hard fight for us, so it is good for us to win again and now let's continue."

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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The manner of Saturday's victory over Andoni Iraola's team caps a near-perfect week for Liverpool manager Arne Slot, whose side have delivered the perfect response to last Saturday's surprise defeat by Nottingham Forest.

As he did at home to Brentford and away to Manchester United, Luis Diaz set the Reds on their way to a deserved three points, scoring twice in two first-half minutes to lift his Premier League tally to five for the season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was caught badly out of position for Liverpool's first but Diaz finished like a seasoned striker, rounding the Bournemouth goalkeeper before firing low into the net.

The Colombian had his second of the game two minutes later, shooting through Kepa's legs from Trent Alexander-Arnold's pass.

Diaz has hit the ground running this season, but Darwin Nunez's spectacular first-half strike - a curling effort from the corner of the area which struck the post on its way in - could prove every bit as important as Diaz's early-season form.

It was Nunez's first Premier League goal since Liverpool's 3-1 win at home to Sheffield United in April, and the Uruguayan looked like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he celebrated with his team-mates.

The victory lifts Liverpool top of the Premier League after five games, with last season's top two - Manchester City and Arsenal - playing each other at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live following the win: "Really happy. Obviously last week it was disappointing, but we managed to bounce back on Tuesday [against AC Milan].

"[After that,] It was about getting back on track in the league.

"Darwin [Nunez] has had to be patient. He has worked hard in training and has been trying to get better, like we all have. He has waited for his chance and today he was excellent.

"Luis [Diaz] has started the season really well. I'm delighted for those two. He [Nunez] was waiting for his chance and he took it today."

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Final Score

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Last year, Liverpool were in the title race all the way until they lost at home to Crystal Palace, so I'm not down on their chances this season.

There is obviously the case of wondering what the new manager might bring but, after a few games this season, we can see clearly that they have an incredible attack, a solid defence and a clear style of play.

Last week's loss to Nottingham Forest was not ideal, but they went to Milan and conceded early and still bounced back.

We are seeing that they believe in themselves and they know exactly what they need to do.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Liverpool’s performance, external

What did you make of Bournemouth’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

Eight matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

All kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries:

• Liverpool v Bournemouth

• Crystal Palace v Manchester United

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week five, he takes on singer-songwriter and West Ham fan James Smith whose debut album Common People is out now.

Liverpool host Bournemouth at 15:00 BST on Saturday.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Arne Slot's side responded well to their defeat against Nottingham Forest last Saturday to win at AC Milan in the Champions League but this is an interesting game and I don't think the Reds will have things all their own way.

Slot has got to marry his side's journey in Europe with their Premier League campaign and that is not easy to navigate. Too many of their players were below their best against Forest, especially Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool's midfield were not quite there either, and they were really wasteful with their final ball, although at the same time you have to recognise that Forest were superb.

Bournemouth are an awkward team under Andoni Iraola and have deserved more than they have got from a couple of games already this season.

I don't think this is going to be easy for Liverpool but I am not going to base this prediction on what I saw from them last week. Instead, because their response was good in Milan, I am going to say they can't play as badly as they did against Forest.

Therefore, I think they will create chances and I am backing them to be a bit more ruthless, and take them.

Smith's prediction: 3-1

Liverpool have got an amazing squad, and they play great football. Manchester City are going to win the league again but I am backing Liverpool to push them really close.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Earlier, we asked you for the four players who have scored more than 100 Premier League goals for Liverpool.

Mohamed Salah is Liverpool's leading scorer in the Premier League, while Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen have all reached a century of top-flight goals for the Reds.

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

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There might not be too much change in Liverpool’s play under Arne Slot compared to predecessor Jurgen Klopp - but there is a major difference between the two on the issue of the fixture schedule.

Klopp did not hide his frustration at the growing number of games in the calendar and regularly voiced his annoyance.

Slot, on the other hand, proved more diplomatic when asked about the subject at his news conference on Friday before Saturday’s home game against Bournemouth, which is the third of seven matches in 22 days.

The Dutchman said it had not been an issue for him so far, despite keeper Alisson being a doubt with a muscle issue and his side being beaten by Nottingham Forest last week following a number of their players being on international duty.

Slot did point out the extra league games, the festive schedule in England and playing the League Cup as differences from Dutch football and it will be interesting to see if his stance changes during the campaign.

The Reds boss also spoke about striker Darwin Nunez, who has been limited to four substitute appearances this season.

Slot talked about how the Uruguayan was getting fitter and understanding what he expects of him and, while Nunez “will get his chance in the near future”, he faces competition from Diogo Jota.

Ahead of Saturday's match against Bournemouth, Arne Slot spoke about Darwin Nunez, who is 'getting fitter and fitter' for Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier this week, Manchester City midfielder Rodri gained attention for calling out the number of fixtures in the schedules of elite footballers in Europe.

On Friday, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was asked about the same topic after he revealed that Reds goalkeeper Alisson was a doubt for Saturday's game against Bournemouth.

"We are thinking about what's to come. We are aware of the fact it's a long season," replied the Dutchman.

"The main difference between the Premier League to Europe is we have to play at Christmas and New Year.

"We need a lot of players and we take that into account when making a line-up."