Arne Slot reacts after Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2 on an emotional opening night of the season at Anfield
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, acknowledges the fans after the team's victory in the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Arne Slot acknowledges the fans after his Liverpool team's victory over Bournemouth at Anfield
(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Arne Slot admitted he found it emotional as Liverpool paid tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva ahead of their Premier League opener at home to Bournemouth. The Reds started their Premier League title-defence with a 4-2 win at Anfield.
Liverpool conceded a 2-0 lead as an Antoine Semenyo brace cancelled out goals from Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo. But late strikes from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah clinched a memorable victory for the Reds.
Supporters unveiled a mosaic tribute to both Jota and Silva ahead of kick-off, after the Portuguese brothers were killed in a car crash at the start of July, while the former LIverpool striker's popular chant was sung throughout at Anfield.
Both Ektike and Gakpo dedicated their goals to their former team-mate by performing a 20 gesture, as a nod to Jota’s now-retired squad number. Salah, meanwhile, recreated Jota's baby shark goal celebration.
The Egyptian was then in tears after the final whistle after staying behind on the pitch to clap along with supporters as they continued to sing Jota’s chant.
Jota's family were present at Anfield for the win over Bournemouth. And speaking after the final whistle, Slot admitted he was blown away by the powerful tributes.
“The main emotion I think should be how impressive and how powerful the tribute for Diogo was,” he said at his post-match press conference. “The banner that the Kop showed, the way ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was sung, the way they sung the song for Diogo before the game, in the first minute, after 20 minutes, after the game.
“It was all so, so impressive and so powerful. That’s what my main emotion is after the game. And then there was even a game that ended in 4-2 where a lot of things happened.
"Unbelievable atmosphere in the final minutes. I thought winning the league here would be more special than a home win against Bournemouth but the last six minutes... Wow, wow, wow. How impressive that was.
"Two great teams involved. Bournemouth and us playing full gas for 99 minutes and the referee kept the game going, not blowing his whistle for every small thing. A great game to watch.
"In the end, we won it and that helped for my emotions. I think this is what you would like to see.
"I said many times last season about the PSG game, you cant compare a last-32 game with the first game in the Premier League in terms of importance but it was similar in that both teams were all in high intensity, never give up then you get a game like this with a good referee."
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Meanwhile, Slot revealed he had not yet checked in on Salah following his emotional reaction at the end of the match.
He said: “I’m not sure (how Mo is) because I didn’t ask him. I actually didn’t want to go in after the game because I found it so special, how our fans reacted today.
“How they kept on singing after the game for Diogo. And the whole tribute, the whole day, the whole game…
“Every time you think you cannot expect more from Liverpool fans, they top this or they overperform. Again, what a tribute.
“I think Mo felt, after the game, how special that was. He probably also felt the emotion because we all knew his family is here, his wife is here, his children are here.
“For them, it might be special to hear how much he is loved over here. What the fans did. But we also feel the emotions of how much grief they still have.
“That mixed emotions maybe led to Mo being emotional. I think I felt the same without being in tears, but I definitely felt the same emotions.”