Match Report
Two late goals from substitute Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah earned Liverpool a 4-2 victory over AFC Bournemouth on Friday night.
The Reds opened up their Premier League campaign in dramatic fashion at Anfield, netting in minute 88 and 94 to earn three points on Merseyside.
Hugo Ekitike had earlier struck on his league debut to open up the scoring, before Cody Gakpo doubled the advantage in the second half.
Antoine Semenyo, however, netted twice to haul the Cherries back onto level terms, though the late efforts of Chiesa and Salah earned Arne Slot's side a winning start to 2025-26.
Team
Alexis Mac Allister started for the Reds in the only change from the FA Community Shield outing last weekend.
Joe Gomez returned among the substitutes, while Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz made their league debuts.
First half
The match began at a swift pace with both sides working opportunities in the opening 15 minutes of the contest.
Ekitike first saw a shot from range easily saved, ahead of Mohamed Salah producing a more forceful attempt after he cut in from the right to work goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Virgil van Dijk then glanced a header over the bar from a Salah delivery as he turned provider with the Reds pressing forward in search of an opener.
In response, however, Bournemouth worked the best chance of the opening exchanges.
Adrien Truffert delivered a dipping cross from the left into the area, finding the run of Antoine Semenyo, though the winger was unable to work his half-volley on target.
Van Dijk again forced a save with a header from a corner ball, while Marcus Tavernier worked Alisson Becker into action after a cutback from the byline via Adam Smith.
Ahead of the interval, though, it was Liverpool who finally broke the deadlock via new front man Ekitike on his Anfield debut.
The No.22 drove through the centre of the Cherries defence with real purpose and found the ball rebound to his feet to produce a calm and collected finish into the back of the net.
The striker then almost doubled his and the Reds’ tally just two minutes later, heading over a Cody Gakpo cross at the back post.
There was to be a frantic end to proceedings in the first half, with Liverpool breaking clear only to see Bournemouth retreat and deny Salah’s pass to Gakpo on the edge of the area.
The visitors then sprinted forward themselves though saw a David Brooks drilled effort fly wide and past the post.
Second half
The game had barely seen any further action before Liverpool doubled their lead after the change of ends.
Ekitike and Gakpo combined well in the final third to work the opportunity, with the latter producing a precise finish into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area.
The No.18 collected the ball from his teammate initially, settled himself with a number of touches across the pitch, and found space around the Cherries defence to finish well.
Mac Allister then tested the reactions of Petrovic from distance, ahead of Wirtz dragging a shot inches past the post after the hour mark.
However, Bournemouth reduced the deficit in minute 64 following a swift break forward down the left flank.
Brooks' low first-time delivery found the run of Semenyo in the area and the winger finished past Alisson to get the Cherries on the scoresheet.
The visitors were growing in confidence following the strike and with 14 minutes remaining got themselves on level terms.
It was Semenyo again who broke forward at pace, sprinting clear from his own half to shoot low into the goal with Liverpool's defence stretched at the back.
The Reds, though, remained steadfast in their belief and found the back of the net twice in the closing stages to retake the lead and earn victory.
In minute 88 substitute Chiesa sparked wilde celebration by being in the right place at the right time to volley home in the area after a loose ball found its way to the forward following a Salah cross.
The Egyptian King then got on the scoresheet himself in added time, moving onto his right in the penalty box to fire a shot into the far corner and put an exclamation point on victory.
SOURCE: www.liverpoolfc.com
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