Liverpool kicked off their Premier League title defence with a dramatic 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night.
Liverpool started brightly and took the lead through new signing Hugo Ekitike, who calmly finished a well-worked move.
Cody Gakpo doubled the advantage not long after, putting the home fans in full voice.
But Bournemouth refused to roll over. Antoine Semenyo pulled one back for the visitors, showing his sharpness in front of goal.
Semenyo struck again in the second half, levelling the score and silencing the Anfield crowd. His goals came after he reported a racial abuse incident from a fan earlier in the game, adding extra weight to his performance.
Just when it seemed Bournemouth might steal a point, Federico Chiesa stepped up. The Italian, who has battled injuries, smashed in a late goal to restore Liverpool’s lead.
Mohamed Salah then sealed the win with a composed finish in stoppage time, ensuring Liverpool began the season with three points.
The atmosphere was charged throughout the night, with the club and supporters paying tribute to Diogo Jota, whose absence was deeply felt.
In the end, Liverpool survived a scare to beat Bournemouth, showing the heart of champions.
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