Liverpool kicked off their Premier League title defense with a thrilling 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield, surviving a spirited fightback from the visitors.
The day began on a somber note with a minute’s silence and 20th minute applause in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva who tragically died in a car accident in July. The tribute set an emotional backdrop for what would become a rollercoaster of a match.
Arne Slot handed Premier League debuts to four summer signings and it was one of them, Hugo Ekitike, who broke the deadlock eight minutes before the break with a calm finish. Ekitike turned provider early in the second half, setting up Cody Gakpo to double Liverpool’s lead.
The match took an ugly twist when Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo reported racial abuse from the crowd, forcing referee Anthony Taylor to pause proceedings. Semenyo responded in the best way possible on the pitch, scoring twice in 14 minutes to drag the Cherries level.
With the clock ticking down, Liverpool dug deep. Federico Chiesa opened his Premier League account in the 88th minute before Mohamed Salah wrapped it up with a composed strike in front of a roaring Kop.
It was a tense yet triumphant start for Liverpool’s title defense while Bournemouth leave Anfield empty handed but with plenty of positives to build on.
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