Liverpool secured a dramatic 4-2 victory against AFC Bournemouth on Friday, kicking off their Premier League title defense with a thrilling match at Anfield. The win was sealed by two late goals from substitutes Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah after Bournemouth mounted a stunning comeback.
The match was an emotional one, as Liverpool paid tribute to forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who were recently killed in a car crash. The home side took an early two-goal lead through a debut goal from new signing Hugo Ekitiké and a strike from Cody Gakpo. However, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo stunned the Anfield crowd with a second-half brace, leveling the score and putting the result in doubt. Semenyo’s equalizer came after the game was paused in the first half following reports of racist abuse directed at him from the crowd.
In the final minutes of the match, Liverpool showed their resilience. Substitute Federico Chiesa put the Reds back in front with an 88th-minute volley. Mohamed Salah then put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, scoring his record-extending 10th goal on a Premier League opening day.
The high-scoring affair showcased the attacking prowess of both teams and sets a dynamic tone for the start of the 2025-26 season.