Liverpool talisman Mo Salah and substitute Federico Chiesa struck late goals because the Premier League champions started the defence of their title by beating Bournemouth 4-2 in a thriller on the opening evening of the season at Anfield on Friday (August 15, 2025).
On a bittersweet night charged with emotion after the July dying of Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota, newcomer Hugo Ekitike bagged a purpose on his league debut to place the hosts forward after 37 minutes and Cody Gakpo doubled the lead in the forty ninth.
But Antoine Semenyo, who was the goal of racist abuse in the primary half that led to a pause in the sport, pulled one again for the guests in the sixty fourth minute and accomplished a double 12 minutes later to rock Liverpool and shock the house followers.
However, Chiesa got here off the bench and despatched the Anfield devoted away proud of an 88th-minute strike after goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic swatted away a ball into the field by Salah, who scored himself deep into added time to wrap up the three factors.
“Fantastic,” Liverpool boss Arne Slot mentioned of Italian ahead Chiesa’s purpose. “He came in in the end because we needed a goal. For him then to score in such a moment is special.
Fans show a banner as Liverpool gamers stand for a minute’s silence in tribute to Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva earlier than the match
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
“It’s even more special because the fans have supported him. It’s nice he gives them something in return with a great goal.”
With Liverpool forward once more, Salah chased the ball previous the defence earlier than chopping inside and firing into the underside nook with a 94th-minute purpose that put the Egyptian joint-fourth with Andy Cole on the all-time Premier League scorers’ checklist with 187.
An emotional Salah pointed to the heavens and flapped two palms to imitate Jota’s shark purpose celebration.
He headed for The Kop stand after the ultimate whistle, and wiped away tears whereas applauding the followers who had been singing their Jota track to the tune of “Bad Moon Rising.”
Jota tribute
The evening began with an emotional minute’s silence for Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a automobile crash. Fans fought again tears as they sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Ekitike, who has joined from Eintracht Frankfurt, was essentially the most spectacular of Slot’s close-season signings in a spending spree topping 300 million kilos ($406.53 million).
“Obviously I think it was a good performance, I could do better,” mentioned the French ahead — who held up two fingers in one hand, and made a zero with the opposite in a tribute to Liverpool’s Jota, who wore quantity 20 — after his purpose.
“But the most important thing was winning, the mentality we showed. Obviously we wanted to win tonight for the people who came and for Diogo,” added the 23-year-old ahead.
Racist abuse
The sport was halted for a number of minutes after Bournemouth’s Ghana worldwide Semenyo reported the racist abuse.
“It’s totally unacceptable,” Bournemouth captain Adam Smith mentioned. “Kind of in shock to be honest that it happened. In this day and age it shouldn’t be happening.
“I do not understand how Ant’s performed on to be trustworthy and provide you with these goals … Something must be finished. We’ll assist him in there and hopefully he’ll be okay.”
