**ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL** // As the Premier League resumed, Liverpool — albeit a new-look side after a busy summer in the transfer market — needed Federico Chiesa to pop up with a late winner to earn the three points in spectacular fashion.
Top of the table by virtue of the Reds and Bournemouth being the only teams to have played so far, would you bet against Liverpool sitting there in May? In Hugo Ekitike, who opened the scoring, and Florian Wirtz, who looks every inch a nine-figure footballer, it has found two gems.
It will, though, clearly need to improve its game management. Cody Gakpo, a player who has hit another level under Arne Slot, put Liverpool two up just a couple of minutes into the second half, but Antoine Semenyo scored a brace to peg it back at 2-2. Cue Chiesa, and an explosion of Anfield noise.
### Winners
It is perhaps not completely fair, but it is hard not to compare Ekitike and Darwin Nunez. Both were expensive number nines, but the early evidence suggests one is much more suited to what Slot wants from his focal point.
Alexander Isak could yet complicate the pecking order, of course. But in Ekitike, Liverpool has found a technically gifted, intelligent and seemingly clinical striker to play down the center.
He wasn't cheap at around $106 million (£79 million), if all the add-ons are met. But this is exactly the kind of final third quality that was required after the sales of Nunez and Luis Diaz.
And then, the match winner. Chiesa's song will last long after he does at Anfield, but he stepped up with a big moment here and made the most of every single second.
### Losers
There were no losers here, though Liverpool does need to find a way to collectively control things better. Even Bournemouth, though it ended the game defeated, more than played its part in an entertaining spectacle.
David Brooks is a good player and in Antoine Semenyo, the Cherries have kept at least one star man from last season.
Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez were taken off with around half an hour to play, but that was perhaps due to match fitness and/or the yellow card that the latter had picked up. Neither performed too badly by any means.
### Player ratings
**Alisson Becker** **(7).** _Though Bournemouth was always competitive in the game, he didn't have loads to do. The Brazilian was as solid as he could be and couldn't do much with the Semenyo goals that beat him._
**Jeremie Frimpong (6).** _In the absence of Conor Bradley, this was a good chance to stake a claim for the right-back spot. Given the ferocious pace of the game, it was no bad thing to have the speedster on the field, though he only played an hour. Good but not great._
**Ibrahima Konate** **(7).** _Some risky moments at the back in possession, such as when he put the ball out for a corner instead of passing back to Alisson early on. However, he grew into things and was strong and solid at the back. Like Alisson, the goals weren't the center-back's fault._
**Virgil van Dijk (7).** _He hasn't looked perfect in pre-season, but was up to the task here when it mattered. In an intense game, he helped guide his defense through. Needs more protection from those in front._
**Milos Kerkez** **(6).** _Lining up for his competitive debut against his former club, the Hungary left-back didn't win much in the air against Semenyo, but was a decent enough performer. Booked for sliding in very late near half-time, which is something he needs to cut out of his game quickly, and probably the reason he was taken off._
**Alexis Mac Allister** **(8).** _Back in the starting XI and selected ahead of Curtis Jones, the Argentine was very good in the middle. He battled as much as he helped play the ball forward, and made a real difference on his return to the team._
**Dominik Szoboszlai** **(7).** _Relentless. That is the only word that you can use to describe just how much running he gets through. He chased and he harried, and that is exactly why he will remain a key man for Liverpool this season. However, a silly flick caused the Semenyo goal on the counter, and the less said about that shot from distance that nearly cleared The Kop the better..._
**Mohamed Salah** **(7).** _Some of the passes that he played were a delight, arched in with the outside of his left boot. He wasn't as involved as he might have liked, but played his part when he could, and sealed the points with a late goal placed into the corner._
****Florian Wirtz** **(7).** _This was only a glimmer of what he is truly capable of, but the German playmaker continued his positive form from pre-season. Everything he does is with such precision and class._**
**Cody Gakpo** **(8).** _In a relatively short team, his height could be advantageous this season. Gakpo was a solid performer here and took his goal brilliantly. He's incredibly strong and held the ball up really well._
**Hugo Ekitike** **(8).** _Some of his touches and link-up play were very impressive, not least in the circumstances. The speed of the play was remarkable and yet he slotted in straight away. He was fortunate with the ball bouncing into his path for the opener, but he tucked it into the net calmly to open his account at Anfield._
### Substitutes
**Wataru Endo** **(6).** _Filling in at right-back initially, the Japanese was coming up against a good player in Brooks. He dealt relatively well with him, though the Bournemouth goal came down that side when he was caught upfield._
**Andy Robertson** **(6).** _Coming on with Kerkez booked, the Scotland captain was an ideal man to introduce. It didn't quite help stop Bournemouth from getting back into things, but it was a necessary change._
**Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez (6).** _Nothing bad but nothing spectacular from the pair._
**Federico Chiesa** **(8).** _He didn't do much aside from score the winner. Well, that'll do!_