The champions raced into a 2-0 lead through first-half strikes from new signing Hugo Ekitike and winger Cody Gakpo. Bournemouth refused to lie down, however – their winger Antoine Semenyo pulled one back in the 64th minute and then completed a stunning solo run to level the match at 2-2 by the 76th minute.
In the final ten minutes Liverpool regained control: substitute Federico Chiesa volleyed home in the 88th minute for his first goal of the season, and Mohamed Salah added a breakaway goal deep into stoppage time to seal the win. Late strikes by Chiesa and Salah gave Liverpool “a dramatic 4-2 victory” in the season opener.
Crucially, the match took place under a cloud of emotion. It was Liverpool’s first competitive game at Anfield since the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota (and his brother André Silva) in July. Fans paid tribute before kickoff – holding up banners reading “DJ20” and “AS30” and observing a minute’s silence – and chanted Jota’s name throughout the game. The atmosphere was charged, and Salah was moved to tears after the final whistle as fans serenaded him with the Jota tribute song. At the same time there was an ugly incident: play was briefly paused in the first half when Semenyo reported hearing racist abuse from a spectator. League and club officials condemned the incident on the spot, emphasizing that “racism has no place” in the game. In the end, Liverpool’s victory was applauded almost as loudly as the tributes to Jota. As one report noted, the crowd’s main emotion was pride in the tribute and resilience shown by the team, capped by late goals from Chiesa and Salah.
From the first whistle, the match swung back and forth in an exciting contest. Liverpool dominated possession early and got the breakthrough on 37 minutes. Ekitike, playing alongside Gakpo and Salah up front, latched onto a pass from Alexis MacAllister and tucked the ball calmly past Bournemouth’s debut goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Two minutes into the second half, Liverpool doubled their lead. Ekitike played a one-two with teammate Milos Kerkez and laid the ball off to Gakpo, who “skipped inside before placing a firm shot into the bottom-right corner” for 2-0.
At this point the hosts looked comfortable. Premier League analysts noted Liverpool was “in control” at 2-0 and that this made Ekitike the first Frenchman ever to both score and assist on his Premier League .
However, Bournemouth, under new manager Andoni Iraola, staged a remarkable comeback. The Cherries’ breakthrough came in the 64th minute. Liverpool’s Stefan Szoboszlai lost the ball in midfield, and David Brooks sprinted down the left flank before delivering a low cross. Semenyo arrived unmarked and cheekily dinked the ball over Alisson to make it 2-1.
Anfield was stunned, but the drama was far from over. Just twelve minutes later, Semenyo again found the net – this time with a solo run from midfield.
Capitalizing on a Liverpool turnover near half-field, he bore down on goal and drilled a left-footed strike past the keeper to level the score at 2-2.
It was a breathtaking turn of events: with the score tied, the game was suddenly wide open.Liverpool answered decisively. Slot brought on substitute Federico Chiesa in the 82nd minute, and he made an instant impact. In the 88th minute Chiesa reacted quickest in a goalmouth scramble to volley the ball home, restoring Liverpool’s lead at 3-2.
Just as nerves flared, Mohamed Salah put the match out of reach. In stoppage time he raced onto a long pass from midfield, cut inside from the left and fired a low right-footed shot into the far corner for 4-2.
The final whistle confirmed a memorable opener. As one recap put it, Liverpool “frantically tried to get back ahead” after Bournemouth’s goals, but Chiesa and Salah emerged as the late heroes.
Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa (foreground) volleys the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute. His finish (captured above) was the turning point that restored Liverpool’s lead.
Liverpool’s goals were shared around the team. The standouts were Ekitike, Chiesa, Salah and Gakpo.
Hugo Ekitike (the summer signing from PSG) was dynamite on his debut: he scored Liverpool’s opener and then teed up Gakpo’s goal. Analysts noted he became “the first Frenchman in Premier League history to both score and assist on his debut”.
Chiesa – the veteran winger whose future had been uncertain – delivered in the clutch. Having “barely featured” under Slot, he volleyed his first league goal exactly when needed, and his composure under pressure was widely praised.
Mohamed Salah was quiet most of the night but kept his composure in the end. He added Liverpool’s fourth goal and then joined the fans in honoring Jota, even mimicking Jota’s signature celebration after scoring.
On the Bournemouth side,
Antoine Semenyo was the clear star performer. In addition to the goals themselves, he repeatedly troubled the Liverpool defense with his pace and dribbling. Pundits noted his “immense strength of character,” scoring twice even after being targeted with racial abuse. His individual effort was “the perfect reply” to the abuse, as one fan wrote during the game. Bournemouth’s captain
Adam Smith also had a strong game on the flank, and he later publicly voiced his anger about the racist incident, praising Semenyo’s professionalism. Defensively, Liverpool were seen as vulnerable. Ibrahima Konaté was left trailing Brooks on the first Bournemouth goal and was turned on the second, leading some analysts to say the visitors “exposed the same defensive weaknesses” as in Liverpool’s recent Community Shield match.
Both managers set up for an open, attacking game. Liverpool started in a fluid, high-press system (a 4-3-3) that Slot described as “high-tempo” and “heavy metal” after the match. The new signings – Wataru Endo, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Ekitike – all started, making Liverpool the first reigning champion to field four Premier League debutants on opening. Up front Liverpool frequently rotated: Ekitike drifted into midfield to combine with MacAllister, while Salah and Gakpo switched wings. After Semenyo’s second goal made it 2-2, Slot tweaked the formation. He replaced both full-backs (subbing in Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez) and pushed Endo into midfield, allowing Wirtz to play as a false. This allowed greater control in the final minutes.
Bournemouth’s game plan was clear: hit on the break. They played with width, using David Brooks and Marcus Tavernier on the flanks to stretch Liverpool’s back line. The away side’s direct style paid off on the goals. Brooks’s speed on the left was crucial – his low cross found Semenyo for Bournemouth’s first goal. After Liverpool’s defensive changes, space opened on the counter: Semenyo’s equaliser came via a quick counterattack from a Liverpool turnover, catching defenders out of position. Overall, the tactics produced an end-to-end clash – as one report noted, an “insanely open, high-quality” 4-2 thriller.
The Anfield crowd delivered an emotional performance. Before kickoff they united to honor Jota (and his brother), and during the match the Kop frequently broke into Jota’s song and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Mohamed Salah, overcome with emotion, clapped along to the chants and wiped tears from his eyes. After the final whistle the crowd was jubilant, celebrating both the win and their late teammate’s memory. A Premier League report noted “fans at that moment … did what he did for us so many times in the past,” referring to Jota’s spirit.
Away from the positive tributes, there was a serious incident. In the first half a Liverpool spectator directed a racist slur at Semenyo, prompting a brief stoppage. The abuse was widely condemned. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said it “takes the shine off” the game. Captain Adam Smith of Bournemouth called it “totally unacceptable” and praised Semenyo for not reacting, stating the whole stadium witnessed a “shocking” event. In a touching moment after the game, Slot approached Semenyo to offer a handshake and encouragement, a gesture of solidarity that was captured on camera. Both sets of supporters – despite the incident – were generally loud and passionate throughout, creating a charged atmosphere befitting a season opener.
With the victory Liverpool have started their title defense on the front foot. Official stats show the Reds have now gone 13 opening-day games unbeaten (10 wins and 3 draws) in league history. Scoring four goals without fans was a confidence boost, but conceding two reminders of the work to do at the back. Slot and the board are expected to reinforce the defense; reports even suggest Liverpool will chase Chelsea’s Marc Guéhi after this display of Konaté’s vulnerability. The manager himself noted, “Normally at 2-2 everyone knows which player I’d look to… I would have loved to bring in Diogo Jota,” hinting at the need for an extra creative spark in crunch moments.
For Bournemouth, the performance was encouraging despite the loss. Newly promoted, they showed they can compete with the very best – rallying from two goals down at a notoriously difficult venue. Analysts described it as a “spirited Bournemouth performance” that was simply “not enough for a point”. Semenyo’s brace and the team’s resilience give Iraola plenty to build on; he will surely feel his side deserved more. However, the defensive frailties will have to be addressed – Bournemouth lost four of last season’s back five to transfers and substitute Maripan and Senesi looked nervous under pressure. The Cherries will regroup and head to Wolves next week believing in their energy but aware that they must strengthen at the back if they want to secure points consistently.
In summary, Liverpool’s match report will note a thrilling opening day, emotional context and late heroics as defining features of this 4-2 win. The champions proved their firepower, while Bournemouth proved they belong in this league – setting the stage for a season that now officially begins.