Toluwani Lasisi
Liverpool opened the EPL campaign dramatically on Friday as they struck twice late beating Bournemouth 4-2 at Anfield.
Tributes were paid before and during the game to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash in July, with a minute’s silence observed before kick-off and applause in the 20th minute – the forward having worn Liverpool’s number 20 jersey.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot gave first Premier League starts to four of his summer recruits, and it was Hugo Ekitike – a £70m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt – who broke Bournemouth’s stubborn resistance with a composed finish eight minutes before the break.
And when Ekitike turned provider to set up Cody Gakpo for a second four minutes after the break, Liverpool looked on course for a comfortable victory.
Referee Anthony Taylor stopped play in the first half when Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo reported that he had been racially abused by a member of the crowd.
And it was Semenyo, showing great character and resolve, who put Bournemouth back in contention when he pulled a goal back from close range after 64 minutes, before crowning a swift break with the equaliser 14 minutes from time.
The Cherries looked set to snatch a point until the unlikely figure of Federico Chiesa steered home his first Premier League goal for Liverpool two minutes from time, Mohamed Salah wrapping up the win with a low finish in front of The Kop.
