Moments you may not have spotted during Liverpool's Premier League clash against Bournemouth on Friday evening
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot reacts during the Premier League match against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15 2025
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot reacts during the Premier League match against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15 2025
(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Liverpool opened the new Premier League season with a dramatic victory against Bournemouth on Friday evening. The Reds were two goals ahead through Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo before the hour but were subsequently pegged back by a brace from Antoine Semenyo on the counter-attack for the visitors.
Substitute Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah then netted in the closing moments to ensure a new-look Liverpool began the defence of their title with three hard-earned points.
But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at Anfield...
Slot fumes
Referee Anthony Taylor earned the praise of Arne Slot after the game. But the officiating in general wasn't always greeted enthusiastically inside Anfield.
Liverpool supporters were livid with the decision not to penalise Marcos Senesi for what appeared to be a clear handball near the halfway line, and shortly afterwards there was further outrage when Bafode Diakite wasn't censured for an obvious tug on the shirt of Ekitike, who attempted to continue playing.
It prompted Slot - resplendent in a snazzy blazer - to gesticulate on the touchline that the next time the forward was being pulled, it might be a better idea to fall over to ensure deservedly winning a free-kick. Who said honesty was the best policy?
Hugo still boss
Ekitike hasn't taken long to win over the Anfield faithful, although scoring and assisting goals as he did on Friday will always go a long way towards such an achievement.
And there was a nice exchange after the game when the Frenchman ventured towards the corner of the pitch near the Kop for a post-match interview with former Reds Michael Owen and Steve McManaman and ex-England man Jermain Defoe.
Ekitike was warmly greeted by the trio and then acknowledged the remaining fans who serenaded him with his new song to the tune of 'Do The Conga'. Seems like that song is catching on, sadly.
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Bare unnecessary
Liverpool were threatening to throw the game away when Chiesa stepped up for his big moment. And how Anfield loved it, singing the Italian's song relentlessly afterwards right up until the moment Salah made the game safe.
The funniest moment, though, came during the celebrations on the Kop immediately after Chiesa's strike, during which one supporter was vigorously enjoying himself from an elevated position.
Cue presumably one of his chums then yanking down the poor fan's shorts and giving everyone a brief view of a full moon before the clothing was swiftly restored to its rightful place. No need, fellas.
Jota forever remembered
It was an understandably emotional evening at Anfield, with this being the first competitive match at the stadium since the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva last month.
The grief of Salah was evident after the final whistle, while later on Alisson Becker, Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk were all spotted embracing Jota's wife and his family.
Anfield doesn't forget its heroes. And the occasion served as a reminder of why Liverpool's forever 20 will never be forgotten.