Ian Doyle writes after Mohamed Salah sealed Liverpool's 4-2 win in their Premier League opener against Bournemouth on an emotional night at Anfield
Ian Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 20 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. He previously also covered Everton for 18 years and followed England, reporting on the European Championships and World Cup final. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: An emotional Mohamed Salah of Liverpool claps along as Liverpool fans in The Top stand sing Diogo Jota's song at full time during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
An emotional Mohamed Salah claps along as Liverpool fans sing Diogo Jota's song following Liverpool's win over Bournemouth
(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Tears were streaming down his face as Mohamed Salah stood alone on the edge of the penalty area in front of the Kop, joining in the applause that thundered all around Anfield. Having moments earlier sent home supporters into delirium by adding the finishing touch to a remarkable, rollercoaster start to Liverpool’s Premier League campaign, now the true emotions were pouring out of the Egyptian.
This was always going to be a poignant occasion, the Reds’ first competitive home game since the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in northern Spain last month.
With Jota’s family in attendance, tributes were paid before the game in the form of a period of silence and a mosaic in memory of the duo, with the former Liverpool striker acknowledged by the home supporters in the 20th minute and other periods throughout the game.
And when the clocked ticked down on the final moments with the game finally won, the home faithful began to boom out Jota’s trademark song for one last time on the evening.
Referee Anthony Taylor’s final whistle was drowned by the salute to the Portuguese, which continued long after the game had ended.
Liverpool’s players then went to the Kop to both celebrate a hard-earned victory and pay tribute to their former team-mate, peeling off one by one and heading back to the dressing room until only Salah remained.
A first real public glimpse of the grief that continues to be felt throughout the club at Jota’s passing, it is going to take time before the true impact is absorbed.
Salah had already experienced a tough evening, way below his stellar best and indirectly responsible for Bournemouth’s equaliser with a poor attacking pass infield as the Reds threw away a two-goal lead their performance admittedly perhaps didn’t merit.
But after substitute Federico Chiesa had volleyed Arne Slot’s side back ahead with only minutes remaining, it was left to Salah to race away on to Wataru Endo’s punt forward and then bide his time before slotting into the far corner.
It was his 10th goal in nine Premier League opening-day fixtures for Liverpool and his 12th in 13 appearances against Bournemouth, one of his favoured opponents.
However, there was only one person on the mind of Salah as he joined in the post-match tributes. This was for Diogo.