Premier League champions Liverpool survived a monumental scare to kick off their title defence with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth, in a game that was overshadowed by an incident of alleged racism.
The talking points from the first 30 minutes of Premier League football this season should have centred around both teams' attacking intent, but headlines were instead made for the wrong reasons, as Marcos Senesi controversially avoided punishment for an apparent handball before Antoine Semenyo told referee Anthony Taylor that he had been subjected to a racist comment from the crowd.
The visitors spurned the first two gilt-edged opportunities of the match, but there was a silver lining to Senesi staying on the pitch, as an unfortunate ricochet off the Argentine set Hugo Ekitike through to score the first English top-flight goal of the season.
No sooner did Ekitike register his first Premier League goal than he claimed his first assist in the competition, as the former Paris Saint-Germain striker then laid off Cody Gakpo to double the champions' lead early in the second half.
Arne Slot's men had looked defensively suspect all evening, though, and the electrifying Semenyo took full advantage with a brilliant brace - including a wonderful solo goal - to remarkably wipe out the hosts' two-goal lead.
However, there would be one late twist to the Anfield tale, as Federico Chiesa's wonderful volley propelled the champions back into the lead, before Mohamed Salah's customary goal sealed the deal.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates scoring on August 15, 2025
A terrific advert for the Premier League on the pitch, less so off it.
With Liverpool defensively deficient and Bournemouth having their rearguard ravaged in the summer transfer window, goals at both ends of the pitch were a guarantee this evening, thanks also to the exceptional attacking talent on show.
As Ekitike made Liverpool purr, the Reds' performance in their own defensive third may very well have been an advert for a Marc Guehi signing, while Giovanni Leoni should have been watching with intent following confirmation of his arrival.
Even a few Reds fans may have reserved a wry smile for Semenyo after what the Ghanaian allegedly went through, and one can only hope that the supposed perpetrator is punished appropriately if the purported offence is proven.
Semenyo's goals alone meant he did not deserve to be on the losing side, but Slot's holders are never to be discounted, even if Friday's display still raised a few more questions than expected.
LIVERPOOL VS. BOURNEMOUTH HIGHLIGHTS
Hugo Ekitike goal vs. Bournemouth (37th min, Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth)
HUGO EKITIKE!
On his Premier League debut! ? pic.twitter.com/loxFsjiwcR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Hu-goal strikes again!
Two in two for Liverpool's new number nine, who links up nicely with Alexis Mac Allister in a deep area and then gets a lucky ricochet off of Senesi just outside the Bournemouth box.
Tyler Adams is relatively close by but inexplicably gives up, and one-on-one with Djordje Petrovic, Ekitike has the simple job of slotting home low into the goal.
Cody Gakpo goal vs. Bournemouth (49th min, Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth)
Cody Gakpo goes on his own to make it two for Liverpool! ? pic.twitter.com/NKrLFo4JU7
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Ekitike holds up, Gakpo takes inside, two touches to work space and bottom-corner finish
Oh Ekitike really is loving life in the red strip.
The Frenchman goes from scorer to provider, holding up the ball in the left-hand side of the box and laying off Gakpo, who made his way infield.
The Netherlands international takes one heavy touch and one light touch to escape the blue shirts, before picking out the bottom corner with aplomb.
Antoine Semenyo goal vs. Liverpool (64th min, Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth)
Antoine Semenyo pulls one back for Bournemouth ?
Game ON! pic.twitter.com/2C1jwPnlzf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Deserved.
Dominik Szoboszlai is the guilty party for Liverpool, gifting possession back to the visitors before Adams sets David Brooks down the left with a fabulous through ball.
The Welshman's cross into the corridor of uncertainty is even better, and Semenyo gets across both Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson to finish first time, despite the best efforts of Alisson Becker's left hand.
Antoine Semenyo goal vs. Liverpool (76th min, Liverpool 2-2 Bournemouth)
WOW!
Antoine Semenyo with an incredible solo goal to equalise for Bournemouth at Anfield ?⚡️ pic.twitter.com/y0UxlX6ovP
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Forget the signings of Florian Wirtz and Ekitike - the best bit of business this summer may very well have been Bournemouth tying Semenyo down to a new contract!
This is nothing short of a sensational solo goal from the Ghana international, who leads a four-on-two counter-attack from inside his own half and seemingly just needs to pick out the right pass.
Instead, Semenyo twists and turns Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk before letting fly with a low left-footed strike, which Alisson can only watch sail into the bottom corner.
Federico Chiesa goal vs. Bournemouth (88th min, Liverpool 3-2 Bournemouth)
"An explosion of red relief!"
Federico Chiesa finds the back of the net! ? pic.twitter.com/AyWE9DvvPo
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Slot may have got some of his substitutions wrong tonight, but he got this one very much right!
An inswinging Salah delivery could be heading for the far corner, and a panicked Petrovic can only parry the ball up into the air, and his defenders do not do much better either.
A weak headed clearance falls kindly for Chiesa inside the box, and the Italian guides the ball into the bottom corner with an exquisite volley!
90+4 min: Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth (Mohamed Salah)
Liverpool fans and fantasy football managers breathe a collective sigh of relief.
It did not look like it would happen for Salah tonight, but the Egyptian always scores on the opening day, and he puts the game to bed with a bottom corner-bound strike well out of Petrovic's reach.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ANTOINE SEMENYO
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo pictured on August 15, 2025
Jamie Carragher may have bestowed Ekitike with this honour, and the Frenchman's performance must be given its plaudits, but we side against the Liverpool legend after a Semenyo special.
After allegedly being the victim of something no human should ever be a victim of, Bournemouth's wing wizard showed scintillating pace, dribbling and finishing all in one to give the Cherries hope with two slick finishes, even if they were for nought at full time.
LIVERPOOL VS. BOURNEMOUTH MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 61%-39% Bournemouth
Shots: Liverpool 19-10 Bournemouth
Shots on target: Liverpool 10-3 Bournemouth
Corners: Liverpool 6-7 Bournemouth
Fouls: Liverpool 7-10 Bournemouth
BEST STATS
Hugo Ekitike becomes just the second Liverpool player to score and assist on his Premier League debut ?
Darwin Nunez also did it against Fulham in August 2022. pic.twitter.com/nSrWApKX41
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 15, 2025
2 - Antoine Semenyo is the first visiting player to score a brace at Anfield in the Premier League since September 2022 (Leandro Trossard's hat-trick for Brighton). Impact. pic.twitter.com/g7nBelO20Q
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 15, 2025
1 - Mohamed Salah is both the top scorer (10) and has the most combined goals and assists (15) of any player on MD1 in Premier League history. Guarantee. pic.twitter.com/yL6LhGLVbe
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 15, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Liverpool will welcome a full nine days to recover from tonight's exertions, as the Reds' next fixture comes on the evening of Monday, August 25, when they head to Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth hope to make it second time lucky at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers next Saturday, three days before an all-Premier League EFL Cup second-round clash with Brentford.
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