A frantic and entertaining start to the new season saw some feel-good performances in attack for the defending champions at Anfield.
Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth
Premier League (1) | Anfield
August 15, 2025
Goals: Ekitike 37’, Gakpo 49’, Chiesa 88’, Salah 90’+4; Semenyo 64’ 76.
Alisson – 7 (out of 10)
Confident and assured in his work between the posts for the most part. Made a couple of routine saves early on before some defensive issues in front of him in the second half.
Played a great pass out to Salah, kicking out of his hands, from which the Egyptian should have done better.
Was left in the lurch by his defenders for both goals, though he will still be disappointed to have let two in, given his high standards of shot-stopping.
Jeremie Frimpong – 7
The addition of some recovery pace in such an attacking team is a valuable addition.
Simply getting back in position is often enough to deter an opposition attack from progressing further.
Liverpool missed him greatly when he left the pitch on the hour mark.
Ibrahima Konate – 7
Had a couple of standout moments dribbling out from the back, which he might have preferred not to have been involved in, but having been put in the situation, he did well.
Couldn’t make the last-ditch tackles required as Bournemouth countered, but won some vital duels as the opposition piled on the pressure.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the fourth goal with captain Virgil van Dijk during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
A better showing than in the Community Shield, though still not at his imperious best.
Milos Kerkez – 5
Got just about enough pressure on Semenyo to scupper an early chance for the visitors, but struggled after that.
His bad positioning and lateness to react was demonstrated when he was late in a tackle on Adam Smith and picked up a yellow card.
On this showing, he’ll need more time to settle, and it was no surprise to see him replaced by Robertson.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 8
Some good defensive contributions throughout, including an important header to clear a Bournemouth corner.
Ran himself into the ground until the end as he was asked to play the full 100 minutes.
Alexis Mac Allister – 8
A good all-round performance from the midfielder, who is always better defensively than you might expect in the absence of a specialist defensive midfielder.
A tackle on Adrien Truffert was a particular highlight and drew great appreciation from the crowd.
Played the ball forward to Ekitike for the opening goal to bag an assist in the season opener.
Mohamed Salah – 8
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the fourth goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Much more involved than he was in the Community Shield, linking up well with Ekitike and Wirtz.
Tested Dorde Petrovic with a shot from just inside the area, which the Bournemouth keeper tipped
Sealed the victory with a right-footed goal cutting on from the left (you read that right) in added time.
Extremely emotional as he stayed on the pitch alone well after the final whistle to join the fans in appreciation of Diogo Jota.
Florian Wirtz – 7
Showed flashes of what he can do with some quick turns when receiving the ball and some through-balls that didn’t quite come off.
Finds good positions to link up with others, and looks like he will be a versatile member of Slot’s team, as well as a high-quality one.
Cody Gakpo – 8
Always a potential threat, and that potential was realised at the start of the second half when he eventually made himself some space for a shot, cutting in from the left and netting Liverpool’s second..
He is a useful part of the lineup for his height at set pieces, given the team were lacking a bit of height in the absence of Ryan Gravenberch.
Hugo Ekitike – 9 – Man of the Match
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates his side scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Held the ball up like he’d been playing in the Premier League for years. Looks very much like a 90s Premier League football combined with a modern-day one.
Forced his way through on goal from Szoboszlai’s pass and finished convincingly when through on goal against Petrovic.
Showed some great touches to go with the hold-up play, and got the assist for Gakpo’s goal. If Liverpool do sign Alexander Isak, the Swede might not get in the team.
Overall Team Performance – 7.5
Substitutes
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa celebrates after scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Wataru Endo (on for Frimpong, 60′) – 5 –
Came on at right-back before moving into midfield ten minutes later. Looked off the pace and struggled to keep up with Bournemouth’s counter-attacks.
Improved with a couple of good interventions later on as Liverpool found their shape, and gets an assist for Salah’s goal.
Andy Robertson (on for Kerkez, 60′) – 6 –
Received a big cheer on entering the fray, and his name was sung around Anfield.
Joe Gomez (on for Ekitike, 72′) – 6
Came on at right back, did a little better than Endo there.
Curtis Jones (on for Mac Allister, 72′) – 6
Replaced Mac Allister as the Argentine wasn’t able to complete 90 minutes.
Federico Chiesa (on for Wirtz, 82′) – 9
Despite the array of new signings at the club, the only one made in the 2024 summer transfer window ended up being the star of the show.
Scored the goal to give Liverpool the lead once again in dramatic fashion, and his song rang around Anfield for much of the rest of the game.
Subs not used: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Harvey Elliott, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha
Arne Slot – 7
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It was a tricky opening game against a side well organised under their manager, Andoni Iraola, though it didn’t look like it at first as Slot’s side navigated the game well.
That was until the hour mark, when some changes to the team didn’t help Liverpool’s cause.
Changes at full-back didn’t really work as Bournemouth’s goal originated from both flanks, Brooks from the left and Semenyo from the right, though it was more of an overall defensive failure than any particular player’s fault.
The use of Endo at right-back lasted 10 minutes before he moved into midfield.
The final sub made up for any previous errors, though, as Chiesa won the game for Liverpool to kick off the season with an emotional three points.
Slot might prefer the next game to be a less eventful win.