It was third time lucky for Alexander Isak after a wayward first-half effort and a second-half cross that ballooned over the bar, but Liverpool's win at Bournemouth was built as much on their increasingly solid defence. The Swedish forward took his fourth goal this season well, and chants of "Isak's a Red" from travelling supporters told you all you needed to know. Yet it is the lack of goals Liverpool are conceding that really deserves highlighting. They were far from perfect on Andoni Iraola's Cherries return but were solid defensively. His side have now kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League - the first time since September 2024 - and did not give up an xG of more than 0.76 in any of those.

"The more times they play together, the more solid the defensive line becomes," said Iraola, whose side remain unbeaten in all competitions. "Virgil [van Dijk], Jeremy [Jacquet], Ronald [Araujo] and Milos [Kerkez] - they're getting the connections and becoming more solid."

Two reliable campaigners, goalkeeper Alisson and centre-back Van Dijk, were superb, with Alisson making a great first-half save to deny Evanilson. But arguably the biggest positive of Liverpool's campaign so far has been the emergence of Jacquet. "I think he has showed a lot of good things so far this season. Still so young, a lot to learn and a lot to give," said Van Dijk.

Iraola was business-like on his return to Bournemouth, saying pre-match the time for talks would be after the game. The 44-year-old is the first manager to remain unbeaten in his first five league games in charge of Liverpool since Joe Fagan in September 1983.