Liverpool flex squad depth in Bournemouth rout to move 5 points clear
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Liverpool appears to have the squad depth to last the pace in the Premier League title race.
Shorn of Mohamed Salah — away at the Africa Cup of Nations — as well as creative midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and most of their first-choice defense, the league leaders comfortably stymied the threat of in-form Bournemouth in a 4-0 away win on Sunday.
Liverpool regained its five-point lead over a trio of chasers — including defending champion Manchester City, which has a game in hand — and extended its unbeaten run in the league to 14 matches.
Indeed, the Reds' only league loss this season remains the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham in September that was filled with refereeing controversies.
Jurgen Klopp's rebuild after an offseason overhaul could hardly be going any better, with Liverpool on top of the league, looking well set to reach the English League Cup final, and still in the FA Cup and Europa League.
Diogo Jota, typically Liverpool's back-up striker, inspired the team's latest win by scoring twice after laying on the opener for Darwin Nunez — the Uruguay striker's 100th senior goal for club and country.
Nunez added another in stoppage time to wrap up the surprisingly heavy victory against an opponent that had won seven of its previous nine games.
There was a composed league debut for 20-year-old right back Conor Bradley, a brilliant display by Ibrahima Konate at center back and even the sight of Joe Gomez — covering at right and left back for injured Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson — showing attacking endeavor to set up Nunez's second goal with a fine cross.
Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are close to being back, according to Klopp, while Salah's return from the Africa Cup depends how long Egypt stay alive in the competition. An injury he sustained in a group match this week doesn't appear too serious, so Liverpool might be back to close to full strength soon.
City looks to have a serious challenger for its league title this season.