The sight of Trent Alexander-Arnold charging forward into space on the right flank would strike fear into the hearts of any defence in the world, and Bournemouth were unstoppable as he registered his first Premier League assist of the season.
In the 29th minute, instead of going down the right wing as usual, Alexander-Arnold drove into the middle, approaching the edge of Bournemouth’s penalty area before making a favorable pass to Luis Diaz and the Colombian player easily completed the remaining work.
It was a milestone for the England right-back, as it marked his 100th goal involvement for Liverpool in all competitions (19 goals, 81 assists), making him the youngest player (25 years and 350 days) since Steven Gerrard to reach that mark for the Reds.
Needless to say, this is a hugely impressive statistic, showing just how important Alexander-Arnold has been to Liverpool since his promotion to the first team under Jurgen Klopp in 2017. It’s also a reminder to Liverpool that they need to do everything they can to keep hold of a player whose current contract expires next summer.
While Alexander-Arnold provided his first assist for Liverpool this season with a pinpoint free-kick for Ibrahima Konate in the midweek Champions League opener against AC Milan, his ability to influence a game from open play is only now being demonstrated. Bournemouth have no answer for Alexander-Arnold’s sprints straight into the spaces created by Liverpool’s other players.
Resolving Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation must be a top priority for Liverpool and new sporting director Richard Hughes. At 25, the England international could double that figure if he stays at Anfield until he turns 30. But with every day that a new deal is not signed, the uncertainty over Alexander-Arnold’s future grows, with Real Madrid making no secret of their interest.
But against Bournemouth, Nunez was given a starting spot. And as it happened, Nunez was revived in the 38th minute. Receiving a pass from Salah to break down the right flank, Nunez cut inside and unleashed a superb left-footed shot into the far corner.
Like all Liverpool players, Slot and the coaching staff have worked with Nunez to help him adapt to the new system. They have used video analysis to help him understand what is expected of him, both on and off the ball. And Nunez’s performance shows that work is paying off.
Slot will be just as pleased, if not more so, with Nunez’s efforts when out of possession. Always leading the press, Nunez also constantly comes back to help his teammates defend and try to win the ball back.
Nunez has had his share of doubters throughout his first two seasons at Liverpool. The challenge now is to produce the same level of effectiveness against Bournemouth consistently. This is an ideal starting point for the promising Uruguayan.