Liverpool left it late to claim a thrilling 4-2 victory over Bournemouth in the opening match of the Premier League season at Anfield, with Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah scoring decisive goals in the closing minutes.
Antoine Semenyo appeared to have salvaged a point for the visitors, netting twice to cancel out earlier strikes from Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo. The Ghanaian forward had earlier reported an incident of racial abuse from a supporter, prompting a brief pause in play and the removal of the alleged offender from the stands.
The night carried extra emotion as Anfield paid tribute to Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car accident last month alongside his brother, Andre Silva. Just 11 days before his death, the 28-year-old Portugal international had married Rute Cardoso, mother of his three children.
A large banner in the Kop read: “Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda – Anfield will always be your home. You’ll Never Walk Alone.” During a minute’s silence, fans displayed a mosaic with Jota’s and Silva’s initials and shirt numbers, set against the Portuguese flag.
Liverpool, fresh from winning a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title last season, have spent close to £300 million in the transfer market. Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong all made their competitive debuts, with the club still linked to high-profile moves for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.
The game began with controversy when Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi appeared to handle the ball to stop Ekitike’s run on goal, yet VAR took no action. Ekitike went on to open the scoring before half-time, calmly slotting past Dorde Petrovic. Early in the second half, he set up Gakpo, who left two defenders grounded before rolling the ball into the net.
Defensive frailties, evident in Liverpool’s pre-season and Community Shield defeat to Palace, resurfaced as David Brooks set up Semenyo to pull one back. The Bournemouth striker then stunned the hosts with a superb solo equaliser, bursting from deep in his own half to score 13 minutes from time.
Chiesa, sparingly used in his debut season, became the hero in the 89th minute when he pounced on a loose ball in the box to restore Liverpool’s lead. In stoppage time, Salah broke clear to seal the win, celebrating in tribute to Jota before breaking down in tears as chants of the late forward’s name echoed around Anfield.