Liverpool fans' response to $132m duo says it all and Arne Slot knows what must come now

As Liverpool beat Bournemouth at Anfield, the atmosphere was much improved on the defeat to Nottingham Forest. And it shouldn't really be a surprise.

Arne Slot's team was stale and struggled to create anything a week ago. Seven days later, it took 19 attempts on goal and notched an expected goals value of just under two. Bournemouth had opportunities as well but Caoimhin Kelleher stood up well and most seemed to come when the result was already beyond doubt.

What the crowd was singing about, though, was telling. Darwin Nunez's name rang around Anfield once again when the Uruguayan, signed for an initial $85m (£64m/€76m) in 2022, curled in a brilliant shot in the first half.

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On his weaker side, it hit the post on the way in and was perfectly placed. If anything can give a player a confidence boost, it is something like that. And if there is any player who thrives on confidence, it is Nunez.

There have been a couple of false dawns when Nunez has looked set to click into gear only to then falter again. But in a "confident" mood, Slot said even before his goal, now is as good a time as any.

Ryan Gravenberch, who increasingly appears to have been a transfer steal at $47m (£35m/€42m), was quietly excellent too. The Dutch midfielder grew into the game but by the time he was in his stride, he was driving past opponents at will in the center of the field. He barely gave the ball away and was snapping into tackles.

He too got a shout-out from the crowd. To the same tune as Gini Wijnaldum's chant that was regularly brought out by Liverpool fans when he was thriving under Jurgen Klopp, Gravenberch's syllables were applied.

It was fitting, really. Gravenberch and Wijnaldum are different kinds of midfield players but both share the same hunger to win the ball back and impressive levels of technical quality and physical prowess.

Liverpool has changed its midfield set-up under Slot and it was altered during Klopp's tenure too. Players who win the ball back frequently and then use it wisely, though, providing energy and creativity from the middle of the pitch, will always be useful.

It wasn't only Gravenberch and Nunez who impressed, but they were among the standouts. If their rise is sustained, it might be that The Kop needs to come up with a more permanent way to thank each of the pair for their contributions.