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UP THE REDS!
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 7, 2019: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores the third goal during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at the Vitality Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Salah levels with Torres & Keita comes alive – 5 key stats from Bournemouth 0-3 Liverpool

Liverpool eased to a 3-0 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, with numerous key statistics arising from the game.

The Reds made the trip to the south coast looking to put more pressure on Man City – they did exactly that.

It proved to be a comfortable win for Jurgen Klopp‘s side, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah scoring the goals.

City then lost to Man United, meaning Liverpool hold a 14-point advantage over the champions, as well as an 11-point lead over Leicester, who visit Aston Villa on Sunday.

Here are five key statistics from Saturday’s victory.

 

Salah Matches Torres Tally…But in Faster Time

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 7, 2019: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (L) celebrates scoring the third goal with team-mate Andy Robertson during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at the Vitality Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Salah hasn’t been at his best this season, with an ankle injury hampering him on occasions.

He was excellent against Bournemouth, though, looking a huge threat throughout and rounding off the scoring for the visitors on his 100th Premier League appearance.

Salah’s strike took him to 81 goals for Liverpool across all competitions, which is exactly the same amount Fernando Torres managed for the Reds.

To sum up the Egyptian’s world-class talent, he has achieved the feat in just 124 appearances, whereas Torres took 142 games to do it – a tally which sees him join the Spaniard in 20th position in the club’s all-time leading goalscorers list.

Additionally, Salah’s goal was his 63rd in the English topflight and only Alan Shearer (79), Ruud van Nistelrooy (68) and Sergio Aguero (64) have scored more in their first 100 league appearances.

Do we sometimes take Salah for granted?

 

Sharing the Goalscoring Duties

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 7, 2019: Liverpool's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrates scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at the Vitality Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

There have been times during Klopp’s reign when Liverpool have felt too reliant on the goals of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Salah.

If they weren’t finding the net, who was?

That has changed emphatically, however, as Oxlade-Chamberlain’s opener on Saturday saw him become the 15th Reds player to score in the Premier League this season.

That is the same number as the entire 2018/19 campaign, highlighting how much Liverpool are now sharing the goalscoring duties.

Keita then got on the scoresheet to become the 16th, meaning Klopp’s men are only one behind their all-time record in a Premier League season, set in 2015/16.

 

Reds’ Dominance Over Bournemouth Highlighted

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 7, 2019: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (#11) celebrates scoring the third goal with team-mates during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at the Vitality Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Bournemouth are an enjoyable team to play in many ways, with Eddie Howe’s side not exactly famed for being an awkward outfit.

Liverpool have been particularly dominant when facing the Cherries in recent times, as proven by their record against them.

Saturday’s victory was the fifth time in a row that the Reds have beaten Bournemouth by a margin of three or more goals.

In fact, it is the first time Liverpool have done that against any team in the top flight, showing how much they like facing the south coast club – where the aggregate score between the two teams in that time is 17-0.

And the result on Saturday didn’t look in doubt from the moment the game kicked off.

 

Keita Finally Comes Alive

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 7, 2019: Liverpool's Naby Keita celebrates scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at the Vitality Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

It’s fair to say Keita has been frustrating to watch in a Liverpool shirt, with the Guinean failing to excel in the manner many expected him to.

His performance on Saturday was very promising, though, as he found the net with a tidy finish and teed-up Salah for the third goal in what was his first league start of the season.

Keita’s post-match statistics summed up how big his influence was on one of his more positive outings for the Reds.

He made 13 ball recoveries, 30 final-third passes and created three chances, all of which were more than any other player managed.

If the 24-year-old can reach his potential, Liverpool have a special midfielder on their hands.

 

Reds On Course for 104 Points

What Liverpool are doing at the moment is bordering on unfathomable, dropping just two points in 16 matches.

The Reds are averaging 2.66 points per game this season, as they finally look to end the long wait for a league title.

After the game, analyst Andrew Beasley pointed out that Liverpool are on course to get 104 points this season, which would be a Premier League record.

It would eclipse City’s 100 points that they managed in 2017/18, which would be an extraordinary achievement.

This could be the greatest-ever Liverpool side we are watching.