Two goals from Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott within the opening six minutes put the hosts in a commanding position from off.
Full-back strike from England
Alexander Arnold shot an arrow into the top corner to give Liverpool a three-goal lead in the 28th minute, before Roberto Firmino took action three minutes later in the fourth.
Not done there, Liverpool had fifth before the interval, Virgil van Dijk going home from a corner – the first time the Reds had scored five runs in the first half of a league game since 1958.
Chris Mayfum’s own goal had the visitors staring at the prospect of an embarrassing drubbing, such concerns heightened after a close-range finish from Firmino and converting a volley from Fabio Carvalho.
After Diaz finished ninth, Liverpool had five minutes to become the first team to score 10 goals in a Premier League match. But Bournemouth tried hard enough to avoid that humiliation, despite a brief scare.
This was the fourth time a team won a Premier League match 9–0, after Manchester United (twice) and Leicester City.
“We had to prove a point for ourselves,” said Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp, celebrating the biggest competitive win of his managerial career so far.
“We weren’t happy with the way we played so far this season, but we had good moments in those games.
“We just had to give a proper direction to the game and that’s why I loved the start today. Two amazing goals, everything about them.
“We kept scoring different goals, but with the same aim of keeping the pressure up. In the end it was a perfect football afternoon.”
The last time Liverpool had failed to win any of their opening four matches of the 2012–13 season, Mohamed Salah’s cross at the end of Diaz’s third-minute header found the net likely to be repeated once again. was not.
It was the first time in eight league games that Liverpool had scored first, and before long the hosts added a second at Merseyside Sunshine as young Elliott went home from the edge of the penalty area.
A third was quick to come, and an expected Anfield wait was worth it, with Alexander-Arnold striking an unstoppable strike into the net, while there was more than an element of luck about Liverpool’s fourth being eliminated by Firmino.
In finding the net, the Brazilian became the first Liverpool player to score four goals – three assists and one goal – in the Premier League.
Van Dijk’s header meant it was going to be a long second half for the visitors, with a sense of even greater dread after Mefham’s own goal, made it six after the break.
A poor parry from Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers was penalized by Firmino before Carvalho and Diaz’s supporters again called for a 10, with Bournemouth certainly looking nervous but it was not to be.
Bournemouth have now conceded more goals (16) in their first four matches of the Premier League season than any other side in the history of the competition.
“What happened today was a pleasant experience,” said Bournemouth coach Scott Parker.
“We need to make a decision (in the transfer market) and give these players a break. They are fighting for air.”
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