LIVERPOOL fought back late to defeat Bournemouth 4-2 in a thrilling Premier League opener at Anfield.
Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah scored in the dying minutes to seal the victory for the Reds.
Antoine Semenyo had earlier netted twice for Bournemouth, cancelling out goals from Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo.
The match was overshadowed by an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car accident last month.
A minute’s silence was held, with fans displaying a mosaic featuring Jota’s initials and shirt number.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised the powerful tribute, calling it “impressive and emotional.”
The Reds’ summer signings, including Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, made their competitive debuts.
Bournemouth were lucky to avoid an early red card when Marcos Senesi handled the ball to deny Ekitike a clear chance.
The game was briefly halted after Semenyo reported racist abuse from a Liverpool supporter.
Bournemouth captain Adam Smith condemned the incident as “totally unacceptable.”
Ekitike opened the scoring for Liverpool before Gakpo doubled the lead after halftime.
Semenyo pulled one back for Bournemouth before completing his brace with a stunning solo effort.
Chiesa, rarely used last season, became the unlikely match-winner with an 89th-minute strike.
Salah added a fourth in stoppage time and paid tribute to Jota with his celebration.
The Egyptian broke down in tears as fans chanted Jota’s name after the final whistle. – AFP