BOURNEMOUTH — the most obliging away in a long time. On the pitch today and in the bars last night. Bournemouth delightful. A delightful series of wins, crowned by a 10-man changed Liverpool eking out three deserved points.

It’s a lovely place determined to have a great night out. They are putting the hours in. It reminded me a little of Liverpool around 2002 — lots of very good bars, not many bar concepts. Just unbridled enjoyment. Tunes and drinks. Zubrowka and apple juice.

Tight, strangely hilly with coastline. They are going to stay up. They play football and are the sort of side you would expect Liverpool to beat nine times in 10. Let’s go again next year. Let’s go again for a week. Though let’s lobby the Premier League fixture computer — August, September, April or May please.

If the discussion of the night out has come earlier than normal — even by my standards — it’s because the game, while not short of incident, was short of drama. Liverpool looked the better side through much of the game and the 0-2 put Liverpool into the sort of control their superiority should have confirmed.

When Daniel Sturridge hits the foot of the post with the most delicate of lobs, Liverpool could have eased to a three-goal lead and it doesn’t take much imagination to see that becoming four or five.

Instead, Bournemouth rallied and Liverpool had to defend as individuals and as a group. They did so reasonably well but any side can get rattled anywhere in this league this season.

Sturridge did brilliantly again to rattle the bar and another alternative universe where Liverpool ease to victory splintered off. Finally, the Liverpudlians’ resistance weakened, and Bournemouth got a consolation they deserved.

Insofar as there was a show, Joe Allen ran it. He got it and gave it, constantly well positioned and alert, his football brain taking in information and converting it to his movement. He was, at times, a joy to watch. He plays the game on his toes. He plays with his head up. He plays. He plays and plays.

Ward did himself no harm, neither young full back made a compelling case but neither did they look completely out of their depth. Jordon Ibe was sensible, Sheyi Ojo exciting. One looks more like a winger, the other an option at wide midfield.

It was a decent examination for these Reds; Bournemouth are a good side. It’s a fabulous ground. It was a good end, Liverpudlians do the morning after the big European night before with aplomb. We enjoy basking in glory and April sunshine, watching Liverpool ease to victory and getting the songbook out.

You don’t have to join in with them all because there will be another one along in a minute though we should all be joining in with the claps prior to Sturridge.

Sturridge’s performance demanded applause, there is a brightness to everything he does currently. The recovery still isn’t entirely complete but he is involved in everything Liverpool do well in the final third. His header is exceptional; I was right behind it. It was in from when it left his head.

Post Dortmund, because there is a chance that everything in my life may be pre and post-Dortmund now, this game was a reminder of what so much of football is — a slightly one-sided encounter, a game without a load riding on it, an excuse to go to a new place with friends and give it the once over.

What a series of wins. Where Stoke was emphatic and Dortmund was earth shattering, Bournemouth instead engaging. Before, during and after.

Up the much changed Reds. Everton Wednesday. Four on the bounce please.

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