Liverpool march on as league leaders, departing with no little relief from Bournemouth. Arne Slot’s team had not fallen into the traps Andoni Iraola’s team have used to sink top-four opponents this season. Mohamed Salah, with customary efficiency, scored twice to claim the three points. If his first came after a highly debatable penalty award, the second, a left-footed chip hit like a prime Tiger Woods approach shot, was a goal of inarguable beauty. It meant Liverpool had negotiated one of their most demanding remaining assignments and sent the pressure back into Arsenal’s fraying mindset. The post-match celebrations reflected the importance of victory.

A game too far for Bournemouth? They were unchanged, as necessity has demanded for weeks now, Liverpool able to field the same XI that swept aside Ipswich last week. A lack of jeopardy in the week’s Champions League action meant only Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo had played at PSV Eindhoven.