GOALS from Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, his 40th of the season in all competitions, and Roberto Firmino condemned Cherries to a 3-0 defeat on an emotional day at Anfield.

Ahead of kick-off, supporters from both teams held a minute's applause in memory of the 96 fans who had lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster 29 years ago this weekend.

Mane made the breakthrough for the hosts after just seven minutes before Cherries were forced to defend in numbers as Liverpool swarmed forward for much of the first half.

And although Eddie Howe's men came into the game more after the break, Salah's header knocked the wind out of their sails as he doubled Liverpool's lead after 69 minutes before Firmino added a third late on.

Joshua King and Liverpool old boy Jordon Ibe returned to the Cherries starting line-up as boss Howe made two changes from the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

King, who came off the bench to score against the Eagles, replaced Callum Wilson, while Ibe was preferred ahead of Marc Pugh. Both Wilson and Pugh were named among the substitutes.

Salah, who netted in Liverpool’s win over Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek, started up front for the Reds and Jordan Henderson returned from suspension.

Salah was denied the first shooting chance of the contest after Steve Cook had timed perfectly his tackle on the Premier League’s leading goalscorer.

And just seconds later, the Egyptian went close to drawing first blood when he poked narrowly wide following a low cross from the right from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Mane opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he reacted quickly after Cherries goalkeeper Asmir Begovic had parried his initial header.

The Senegalese international was on hand to net the loose ball from close range to register his 17th goal in all competitions this season.

It also saw the former Southampton man become the highest-scoring Senegalese player in Premier League history with 44 goals, surpassing Demba Ba’s total.

Cherries, roared on by 1,800 travelling supporters, looked for an instant response but Ibe’s 25-yarder sailed over the crossbar.

Begovic had to get down smartly to push away Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick after Nathan Ake had been booked for bringing down Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 20 yards out.

Salah drew another save from Begovic after turning Steve Cook on the edge of the box before Jermain Defoe’s effort following a well-worked corner routine was ruled out for offside.

Simon Francis cheaply squandered possession to Salah and was relieved to see him clip his shot over the crossbar after 26 minutes.

Salah lifted another opportunity over the top before Oxlade-Chamberlain’s rasping strike was deflected past the post for a corner, which was punched clear by Begovic.

Virgil van Dijk fashioned the first shooting chance of the second half, the Dutchman’s effort from around 35 yards clearing the crossbar.

Lys Mousset was thrust into the action as a 57th-minute substitute, the Frenchman replacing Ibe, who received warm applause from Liverpool fans as he left the pitch.

A swift Liverpool counter-attack, started by Alexander-Arnold, ended with Salah’s feeble shot being saved comfortably by Begovic.

Cherries survival a loud penalty appeal after Salah had gone to ground under an Ake challenge on 67 minutes, the striker going down far too easily.

Salah stayed on his feet to double Liverpool’s lead with a flicked header from Alexander-Arnold’s cross after 69 minutes, his effort looping over a stranded Begovic.

Firmino should have added a third just minutes later but saw his effort cleared off the line after he had raced clear.

Dan Gosling seized on the loose ball after Loris Karius had saved from Mousset, the Liverpool goalkeeper parrying the midfielder's shot which had looked destined to halve the deficit.

And as Cherries continued to create chances, Callum Wilson's shot from an acute angle bounced past the far post eight minutes from time.

Firmino added further salt to Cherries' wounds when he fired home late on following a neat pass from Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Liverpool: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Lovren (Klavan, 83), Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino (Solanke, 90), Mane (Milner, 76).

Unused subs: Moreno, Ings, Woodburn, Mignolet (g/k).

Booked: Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Cherries: Begovic, Francis, Ake, S Cook, Daniels, Fraser, L Cook, Gosling, Ibe (Mousset, 57), King, Defoe (Wilson, 69).

Unused subs: Pugh, B Smith, Simpson, Boruc (g/k).

Booked: Ake.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh.

Attendance: 52,959.