Liverpool earned their first win of the season in stunning fashion after equalling the record for the biggest ever Premier League victory with a 9-0 thrashing of newly-promoted Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday.
Two goals inside the opening six minutes from Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliot put the hosts into a commanding position from the off.
A stunning strike from England full-back Trent Alexander Arnold which arrowed into the top corner gave Liverpool a three-goal lead in the 28th minute before Roberto Firmino got in on the act with a fourth three minutes later.
Not done there, Liverpool had a fifth before the interval, with Virgil van Dijk heading home from a corner, before Chris Mepham’s own goal had the visitors staring at the prospect of an embarrassing drubbing.
A close-range finish from Firmino kept the goals coming, with substitute Fabio Carvalho’s finish letting the home fans dream of a record-breaking afternoon.
Diaz’s headed ninth strike came with Liverpool having five minutes to become the first side to score ten in a Premier League match. But despite some late scares, Bournemouth did just enough to avoid suffering that ignominy.
Elsewhere, Erling Haaland struck a second half hat-trick as Manchester City came back from two goals down at the Etihad Stadium to beat Crystal Palace 4-2.
Raheem Sterling’s first goals for Chelsea meanwhile gave the 10-man Blues a 2-1 victory over winless Leicester.
Sterling’s second-half double proved decisive at Stamford Bridge as the hosts overcame the loss of manager Thomas Tuchel and England midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Tuchel was serving a touchline ban following his touchline confrontation with Antonio Conte in the opening home match of the season against Tottenham, while Gallagher was dismissed after being penalised for two yellow card offences on Harvey Barnes.
Brighton & Hove Albion kept up their impressive unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a second-half goal from German midfielder Pascal Gross sealing a 1-0 victory over Leeds United at the Amex Stadium.
Gross broke the deadlock after Brighton wasted a number of opportunities, as he ran on to a Leandro Trossard pass and slotted in his third of the campaign to seal the win, leaving the south coast side with 10 points from four games.
In Saturday’s early kick-off, Manchester United posted back-to-back wins and ended a run of bad form away from home with a 1-0 victory at Southampton thanks to a second-half strike from Bruno Fernandes. United’s second win on the bounce halted a seven-match losing streak on the road stretching back to last season.
