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 every part that he might to will Bournemouth again into the match after it was stopped through 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, nevertheless it’s one which was made higher with new signing Hugo Ekitike grabbing his first purpose 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 trustworthy sang “You may 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 purpose and an help, the brand new signing who delivered essentially the most was Ekitike after becoming a member of from Eintracht Frankfurt. Concerned in nearly each assault, he brings the query to mild 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 through the summer season, however Ekitike had a well-placed end for his purpose, together with a powerful help to present why he joined the Reds. Slot once more pushed the best buttons from the bench with Cheisa scoring his first Liverpool purpose solely seven minutes after coming 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 appear to be 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 just isn’t at its finest.
Glorious Ekitike
It is fairly a debut for Ekitike after becoming a member of through the summer season. He did not miss a beat, dropping deep to assist orchestrate the assault and profiting from his photographs to attain and help a purpose. 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 fingers. 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. Ultimately, the Reds will want the protection to tighten, however so long as they will put the ball at the back of the web, there will not be a difficulty with selecting up factors.
An unlucky stoppage
Whereas Liverpool gained the match, it wasn’t all sunshine at Anfield with a stoppage within the thirtieth minute because of a racial incident.
“I’m instructed by way of the Premier League match heart that Antoine Semenyo was the topic of a racist remark from the gang,” Peter Drury mentioned through the USA Community broadcast of the match. “It was Semenyo himself who introduced consideration to it.”
Semenyo responded in one of the simplest ways attainable, scoring two targets, the second of which leveled the match after a protracted solo breakaway run for Bournemouth. The Premier League will probably be investigating the incident.
What’s subsequent for Liverpool?
The title protection will head to an enchanting place for the Reds in going through Newcastle United at St. James’ Park subsequent week. With Isak being frozen out of the squad and eager to push for a transfer to Liverpool, it creates extra drama for that conflict, however Ekitike is doing every part that he can to point out that he ought to lead the road, regardless of who is available in.
