We did not have one of those unique welcomes to greet Eddie Howe and his gentlemen of the south coast. We did not have enormous crowds on the surrounding roads behind segregation barriers. We did not have Bournemouth sending for another carriage to take them home. After this game, we probably will not have Peter Moore, the chief executive, proudly retweeting posts from independent surveys which reveal Liverpool supporters as being the loudest in the land.

A spring evening made it feel like a moment for Pimms and lemonade on the boundaries of a village green. The buses displaying town names from many areas of the country snaked all the way around Stanley Park and out into Walton. Only a few had come from Bournemouth. Families from those other places held hands as they practically skipped across the fields wearing replica shirts. If Manchester City felt like a religious festival, this was more like a church fete. From the bandstand behind the Kop, a singer with a beard whistled out Wheatus’s version of Little Respect. Had babies cried in the quieter moments inside the stadium, you’d have heard them.

Different days of the week. Different kick off times. Opposite atmospheres. Same venue. Same outcome. Same scoreline. It is often said that Liverpool will need the atmosphere at Anfield to consistently be more febrile if the club is to win another championship. It is surely Liverpool’s six home draws this season that has cost them a genuine shot at challenging City, after all. Yet Liverpool are also now 19 unbeaten – the only team in the Premier League to go undefeated at home. It feels like Jürgen Klopp is gradually fashioning a squad that can get by when all is it not quite as lively around them, as well as one that thrives in the hostility of any environment.

Virgil van Dijk clears under pressure from Jermain Defoe (Getty)

The star of the Klopp era is this well-oiled team. In normal seasons, Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Andy Robertson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be candidates for the player of the season award, even though three of them have only really emerged in the second half of the campaign. It changes things that Mohamed Salah has been there throughout, of course, whose commitment towards goalscoring throughout has been puritanical. Here, his arcing header from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s second gorgeous cross of the day ensured he became only the third forward in Liverpool’s history to score 40 times in a campaign. Salah’s company is legendary. The other two? Roger Hunt and Ian Rush.

Liverpool’s lead had been established in the seventh minute, though it could have been established earlier had Salah’s accuracy not abandoned him from the first of those Gerrard-esque Alexander-Arnold deliveries. Instead, the advantage followed from another cross – this time from Jordan Henderson. Henderson’s creative output feels like it has improved since the signing of Virgil van Dijk because he knows as the holding midfielder, he can drive further up the pitch and hold there, with the enormous Dutchman marshalling behind him. His curving pass came from a right of centre position. In converting at the second opportunity, Sadio Mané ensured that for only the third time since 1990/1991 Liverpool’s top three league scorers have reached double figures for the campaign.

Mohamed Salah has now scored 40 goals in one campaign for Liverpool (Getty)

Mané’s confidence is returning at just the right time. Confidence is coursing through the veins of this Liverpool side and it will be difficult to stop from this position, where the momentum is with them. You know this is a fact when you see Alexander-Arnold, the 19-year-old right back, seizing the opportunity to take a direct free-kick at the expense of Salah, who was brushed away even though he will become a Golden Boot winner if he carries on scoring.

Salah was having an off-day, his touch not as tight as usual, his shots sometimes rushed. Players do this when they are at the very top level, though: they still score. In truth, the rest of his team-mates were sharper and this defined Liverpool’s absolute control of the event. Their dominance was truly reflected when Firmino – outstanding again – made Asmir Begovic think he was going to shoot one way but fired in the other direction to make it 3-0.

Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Loris Karius – 6 out of 10 Never tested. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8 out of 10 Threatened down the right in the first half and provided the assist for Liverpool’s second goal with a wonderful cross for Mo Salah. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Dejan Lovren – 7 out of 10 An easy evening’s work for the Croat. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Virgil van Dijk – 7 out of 10 See Lovren, Dejan (but replace the word ‘Croat’ with ‘Dutchman’). Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Andy Robertson – 7 out of 10 Wasn’t involved too much in an attacking sense and wasn’t tested going the other way either. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Gini Wijnaldum – 7 out of 10 A solid midfield performance to back up his fine second-half display against Manchester City. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Jordan Henderson – 7 out of 10 Missed the win over City through suspension and turned in a combative performance in the middle of the park on his return to the side today. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 8 out of 10 So positive in possession and assisted Firmino for Liverpool’s third. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Mo Salah – 7 out of 10 Disappointed for the large part before notching an outstanding headed goal to double Liverpool’s lead. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Roberto Firmino – 8 out of 10 Made it 3-0 in the closing stages with a clever finish that wrong-footed Asmir Begovic. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Sadio Mane – 7 out of 10 Reacted quickest to stab Liverpool into the lead after his initial effort was saved by Asmir Begovic. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Asmir Begovic – 5 out of 10 Beaten at his near post for Liverpool’s third but he wasn’t exactly to blame for any of Liverpool’s goals. Getty Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Ryan Fraser – 6 out of 10 Full of running down the right wing. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Simon Francis – 6 out of 10 Should’ve claimed a second-half assist but Lys Mousset couldn’t turn home from the full-back’s superb cross. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Steve Cook – 6 out of 10 Made a couple of important blocks in the first half. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Nathan Ake – 6 out of 10 Could’ve conceded a penalty for a push on Salah after the break but the referee let him off the hook. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Charlie Daniels – 5 out of 10 Tasked with shackling Salah and did well for the most part. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Jordon Ibe – 5 out of 10 Struggled to get into the game and was substituted in the second half. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Lewis Cook – 6 out of 10 Played well in midfield before being withdrawn in the second half. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Dan Gosling – 6 out of 10 Had Bournemouth’s best chance of the match but he was denied from close range by Loris Karius. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Josh King – 5 out of 10 His attacking influence was restricted as Liverpool dominated the entirety of the match. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - player ratings Jermain Defoe – 5 out of 10 Barely involved before being substituted in the early stages of the second half.