August 16, (THEWILL) — Liverpool commenced their 2025/2026 English Premier League campaign with a 4-2 triumph against Bournemouth at Anfield, though Arne Slot’s champions were made to work considerably harder than anticipated.
The Reds controlled proceedings for lengthy spells but found themselves pegged back twice by a determined Cherries outfit. Hugo Ekitiké marked his competitive debut with both a goal and an assist, while Federico Chiesa came off the bench to score what proved to be the decisive strike.
Bournemouth’s resilience proved the story of the evening, with Antoine Semenyo delivering a masterful individual performance that threatened to derail Liverpool’s opener.
The Ghana international netted twice in the second period, first capitalising on David Brooks’ precise delivery before completing his double with a stunning solo effort that left Ibrahima Konaté trailing in his wake.
Manager Andoni Iraola’s tactical adjustments at half-time transformed his side from passive observers into genuine threats, exploiting Liverpool’s high defensive line with devastating counter-attacks that silenced the home crowd.
The opening exchanges belonged entirely to Liverpool, who dominated possession without creating clear opportunities until controversy struck in the 15th minute.
Marcos Senesi’s handball inside the penalty area appeared blatant to home supporters, yet referee Anthony Taylor waved play on after consultation with VAR officials.
Ekitiké eventually broke the deadlock eight minutes before the interval, receiving Alexis Mac Allister’s through ball before rounding Đorđe Petrović with composed finishing that belied his debut nerves.
Slot’s interval instructions bore immediate fruit as Cody Gakpo doubled Liverpool’s advantage within minutes of the restart, cutting inside from his favoured left flank before curling a precise effort beyond Petrović’s reach.
The Dutch winger’s strike appeared to settle any early-season jitters, yet Bournemouth’s response proved swift and devastating.
Semenyo, who had caused the game to be halted with his complaint of racist comments, netted his first goal via Brooks’ excellent wide delivery, before his second saw him surge from deep inside his half to level proceedings with 14 minutes remaining.
Chiesa’s introduction proved the decisive tactical switch, with the Italian forward netting his maiden EPL goal just two minutes after entering the fray.
Mohamed Salah extended his opening day scoring record to seal victory in stoppage time with a trademark curling effort, rescuing a loose ball before cutting inside to find the far corner with his left foot.
The result maintains Liverpool’s perfect home record against the Cherries while confirming Slot’s squad possesses the depth required for another sustained title challenge.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
