Federico Chiesa was the most unlikely of heroes as Liverpool fought back for a 4-2 win over Bournemouth, having let a two-goal lead slip at Anfield.
Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth
Premier League (1) | Anfield
August 15, 2025
Goals
Ekitike 37′ (assist: Mac Allister)
Gakpo 49′ (assist: Ekitike)
Semenyo 64′
Semenyo 77′
Chiesa 88′ (assist: none)
Salah 90+4′
Team news
Arne Slot made a big call in starting Alexis Mac Allister over Curtis Jones in his only change of the evening, while Joe Gomez returned after an Achilles injury to take a spot on the bench.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool supporters holding up a banner to pay tribute to Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in July, on the Spion Kop before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Gomez’s inclusion came again at the expense of Kostas Tsimikas, who continues to sit out as he awaits a move, and Ben Doak was left out as he nears a £25 million move to Bournemouth.
New signing Giovanni Leoni was not completed in time to be registered for the squad, but watched from the stands at Anfield.
First half
Heartwarming tributes were paid to Diogo Jota and brother Andre Silva ahead of kickoff, with a period of silence observed and a mosaic displayed, before Jota’s song rang out on repeat.
That paved the way for a raucous atmosphere as the Kop worked its way through the songbook on the first game of Liverpool’s title defence.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike (R) and Bournemouth's Bafodé Diakité (L) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It was a fast start, with both Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah bright early on, and the Frenchman was subject to a shocking VAR decision as Michael Oliver judged somehow judged Marcos Senesi not to have deliberately handball as the last man up against Liverpool’s No. 22.
Unfortunately there was a more serious controversy around the half-hour mark as Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo reported racist abuse from a home supporter, with the game briefly paused.
Liverpool took the lead soon after its restart, with Ekitike benefiting from a lucky bounce to find himself one-on-one with Djordje Petrovic, before finishing with a reassuring calmness.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Second half
Ekitike was at the heart of the move as Liverpool extended their lead less than four minutes into the second half, making a smart run into space before holding the ball up and laying it off for Cody Gakpo.
Gakpo did the rest, twice dummying a shot before firing in for 2-0; his movement and his celebration a perfect tribute to Jota.
Slot made an interesting decision on the hour as he withdrew both Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez – the latter on a booking – with Wataru Endo coming on at right-back and Andy Robertson at left-back.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté (L) and goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Reds were soon caught on a turnover and with neither full-back in position, David Brooks was freed down the right and, up against Ibrahima Konate, was able to deliver the ball for Semenyo to make it 2-1.
More changes followed as Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones came on for Ekitike and Mac Allister, with Liverpool switching to a 4-2-4 setup with Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai as No. 10s.
Bournemouth broke again and this time it was Semenyo straight through the middle, driving the two centre-backs back towards their goal and blasting in from the edge of the area.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa scores his side's third goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Federico Chiesa came on as a last roll of the dice and it paid off – the Italian volleying in with 88 minutes on the clock to secure an unlikely late win.
That wasn’t to be it, either, with Salah adding a fourth in stoppage time after chasing down a loose ball and cutting onto his weaker right foot to find the bottom corner.
TIA Man of the Match: Hugo Ekitike
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong (Endo 60′), Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez (Robertson 60′); Mac Allister (Jones 72′), Szoboszlai, Wirtz (Chiesa 82′); Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike (Gomez 72′)
Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Elliott, Nyoni, Ngumoha
Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Evanilson
Subs not used: Dennis, Araujo, Hill, Soler, Billing, Winterburn, Traore, Kroupi, Rees-Dottin
Next match: Newcastle (A) – Premier League – Monday, August 25, 8pm (BST)