After watching a two-goal lead slip away to Bournemouth, Federico Chiesa restored order, scoring to offer Liverpool the win in a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth on Friday to kick off the Premier League season. The Reds went forward 2-0 after solely 49 minutes earlier than Antoine Semenyo did the whole lot that he might to will Bournemouth again into the match after it was stopped in the course of the thirtieth minute because of Semenyo reporting to the referee that he was racially abused whereas taking a throw-in.

Kicking off the season at Anfield was a bittersweet affair for Liverpool, however it’s one which was made higher with new signing Hugo Ekitike grabbing his first objective for the membership en path to a victory. The stadium honored Diogo Jota together with his quantity 20 displayed within the stands whereas the Liverpool devoted sang “You will By no means Stroll Alone,” paying tribute to the participant who died this summer season in a automobile crash together with his brother in Spain.

Within the match, Liverpool coach Arne Slot broke in an XI that included 4 new signings who did not miss a beat. Throughout a stop-and-start match, Liverpool managed the conflict even with Florian Wirtz not being at his finest. With a objective and an help, the brand new signing who delivered probably the most was Ekitike after becoming a member of from Eintracht Frankfurt. Concerned in nearly each assault, he brings the query to gentle of do Liverpool even want Alexander Isak, who’s pushing for a transfer from Newcastle United?

As for Bournemouth, they’ve seen most of their beginning protection depart in the course of the summer season, however Ekitike had a well-placed end for his objective, together with a robust help to present why he joined the Reds. Slot once more pushed the suitable buttons from the bench with Cheisa scoring his first Liverpool objective solely seven minutes after getting into the match. In stoppage time, Mohamed Salah added an exclamation level to the affair, and this was a real image of what Liverpool will seem like this season. 

Discovering out how the brand new gamers match collectively is a problem for Slot, however beginning off the season with all three factors, it is a Liverpool squad that may repeat as Premier League champions and may ship even when their protection will not be at its finest. 

Glorious Ekitike

It is fairly a debut for Ekitike after becoming a member of in the course of the summer season. He did not miss a beat, dropping deep to assist orchestrate the assault and taking advantage of his pictures to attain and help a objective. It felt like he was at all times in Slot’s facet, and with a debut like that, the way forward for the 9 is in good palms. Liverpool will want contributions all season to beat the frailty of the protection. Milos Kerkez was focused by Bournemouth and misplaced his matchups with Semenyo, however the Liverpool assault ensured that they would not drop factors. Finally, the Reds will want the protection to tighten, however so long as they’ll put the ball at the back of the web, there will not be a problem with choosing up factors.

An unlucky stoppage

Whereas Liverpool received the match, it wasn’t all sunshine at Anfield with a stoppage within the thirtieth minute because of a racial incident.

“I’m advised by way of the Premier League match middle that Antoine Semenyo was the topic of a racist remark from the gang,” Peter Drury stated in the course of the USA Community broadcast of the match. “It was Semenyo himself who introduced consideration to it.”

Semenyo responded in one of the best ways attainable, scoring two objectives, the second of which leveled the match after a protracted solo breakaway run for Bournemouth. The Premier League can be investigating the incident.

What’s subsequent for Liverpool?

The title protection will head to an interesting place for the Reds in dealing with Newcastle United at St. James’ Park subsequent week. With Isak being frozen out of the squad and desirous to push for a transfer to Liverpool, it creates extra drama for that conflict, however Ekitike is doing the whole lot that he can to point out that he ought to lead the road, regardless of who is available in.