Jurgen Klopp's mid-week changes were vindicated as the reds roared to a big Premier League win against Bournemouth away.
Liverpool shrugged off their defensive injury concerns with James Milner playing his 500th Premier League game - on this occasion as a right back.
New midfield signings Fabinho and Naby Keita were both named in the starting line up as the reds produced one of their best displays of the season in the Premier League.
In wet and windy conditions on the south coast it was Liverpool who settled the quickest and went ahead mid-way through the first half through last season's top scorer.
Firmino, from 25 yards out, produced a powerful shot that stung the hands of Asmir Begovic. The Serbian keeper could only parry into the middle of the area and it was Salah who pounced quickest.
Liverpool controlled rather than punished Bournemouth for the rest of the first half - Shaqiri a constant menace and Keita's driving runs forward unsettling the home midfield.
The reds came back out from the start of the second half with an even better mentality and Mo Salah doubled the reds lead just three minutes after the re-start. Firmino feeding a ball forward and then Bournemouth defender Steve Cook attempted to foul the Egyptian with a stud rake down the back of his leg.
But Salah carried on running into the area and put the ball in the net.
As it happened: Bournemouth 0-4 LFC
Next up, and with some karma, was a Steve Cook own goal. He couldn't deal with a deadly Andy Robertson cross, and it bounced off the inside of his leg and in to the net for 3-0.
With the clock running down it was left for Salah to wrap up his hat-trick by twisting and turning the hapless Bournemouth goalkeeper.
Liverpool return to the top of the Premier League, for now at least. Chelsea and Man City play each other later today.
The reds have a huge 42 points from 16 games.
