Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp revealed that Gini Wijnaldum was a major doubt for the Bournemouth game after suffering with vomiting and diarrhoea last night.
Klopp’s men reclaimed top spot from Man City after their 3-0 win over the Cherries, and moved three points ahead of their rivals, who face Chelsea at The Etihad on Sunday.
If there were any nerves in the Liverpool camp, they were quickly put to bed at Anfield as Sadio Mane (24) nodded in from a James Milner cross to score for the fourth game on the bounce, despite appeals of offside.
And the hosts were 2-0 up 10 minutes later when Andrew Robertson’s lofted pass found Wijnaldum who controlled before lifting it over the stranded Cherries keeper Artur Boruc.
Liverpool then made it 3-0 just three minutes after the break through a brilliant team goal finished off by Mo Salah. Milner, Mane Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino were all involved before the latter’s back heel found Salah, who fired into the far corner.
Speaking to Match of the Day, Klopp said: “[Wijnaldum] didn’t sleep in the team hotel last night.
“He had diarrhoea and vomiting two nights earlier so he couldn’t come to the team hotel.”
With the Reds now on top again, Klopp believed it was important to prove everyone right about making Liverpool title favourites.
“We have high expectations and today we won in an impressive manner – we had some outstanding performances on the pitch. Goal number three was world-class,” Klopp explained.
“We wanted to show a reaction. It’s our job not only to come through but to really perform and convince.
“We were not happy with the performances from the previous two games and struggled a bit with set-pieces.”