Liverpool survive scare to open Premier League defence with 4–2 win over Bournemouth
Liverpool began their Premier League title defence with a hard-fought 4–2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield, overcoming a spirited Cherries comeback to extend their winning run at home against the South Coast side to seven matches.
The evening carried extra emotion for the Anfield crowd, with You’ll Never Walk Alone sung in honour of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, whose tragic passing was marked by a minute’s silence.
Manager Arne Slot handed Premier League debuts to four players, and his revamped champions started brightly. Mohamed Salah forced Đorđe Petrović into an early save with a trademark curling effort, before turning provider for Virgil van Dijk to head narrowly over.
Liverpool thought they should have had a penalty after 12 minutes when Marcos Senesi appeared to handle as Hugo Ekitike broke through, but the referee waved play on. Ekitike eventually found his reward in the 37th minute, latching onto Alexis Mac Allister’s through ball, via a fortunate deflection off Senesi, before finishing clinically past Petrović. He nearly doubled his tally moments later, but the hosts reached half-time with only a slender lead.
Five minutes into the second half, Ekitike turned creator, setting up Cody Gakpo to sweep home Liverpool’s second. Slot’s side looked in control, and Petrović was called into action again to tip over Mac Allister’s long-range strike. But Bournemouth hit back, with Tyler Adams releasing David Brooks down the left before the winger’s pinpoint cross was turned in by Antoine Semenyo.
The Ghanaian stunned Anfield again soon after driving unopposed through the heart of Liverpool’s defence and firing past Alisson to become the first visiting player to score twice at Anfield since September 2022.
Just as Bournemouth sensed an upset, their defensive lapse proved costly. Federico Chiesa pounced on a loose ball in the box to net his first Premier League goal and restore Liverpool’s lead. Salah then sealed the win late, slotting home his 10th opening-day strike in the competition to spark wild celebrations and cap a breathless start to the champions’ season.
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