Arne Slot’s side had the VAR to thank for chalking off an early Bournemouth goal due to offside, and Diaz threatened several times before finally beating keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to a long ball and rattling it home in the 26th minute.

Less than three minutes later Diaz had his second goal as Bournemouth were sliced open by a five-on-four break, and Darwin Nunez then added a brilliant third, slowing down before suddenly accelerating again and curling home a left-foot shot to make it 3-0.

Despite their offensive dominance, Liverpool still looked occasionally vulnerable at the back and keeper Caoimhin Kelleher had to claw the ball away after it hit the bar from a late corner, but Bournemouth could not find a way back into the game as the hosts ran out easy winners.