Liverpool began their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield, continuing their strong record against the Cherries on home soil. Bournemouth have now managed just one Premier League point at Anfield, collected back in 2017.
Before kick-off, Anfield paused for a poignant moment of reflection, observing a minute’s silence in memory of Diogo Jota, followed by warm applause in the 20th minute.
The three points were not as comfortable for Liverpool as the scoreline suggests, winning by the way of an 87th-minute winner to halt hopes of a Bournemouth comeback, while Mohammed Salah sealed victory in the dying stages.
Starting XIs
Liverpool handed Premier League debuts to Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike, while Milos Kerkez started against his former club. In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister supported a front line featuring Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and debutant Ekitike.
For Bournemouth, new signing Djordje Petrovic made his debut in goal, joined by fellow debutants Enzo Diakité and Adrien Truffert in defence. Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith, Tyler Adams, Antoine Semenyo, Alex Scott, Marcus Tavernier, David Brooks, and forward Evanilson completed the line-up.
First half
Liverpool made the brighter start, with Salah lifting a perfectly weighted ball into the area after just five minutes, only for Virgil van Dijk to head over the bar. Bournemouth responded quickly, as Semenyo fired over from the centre of the box following a cross from new signing Adrien Truffert.
Controversy followed in the 13th minute when Hugo Ekitike looked set to race through on goal, only for Marcos Senesi to handle the ball, which VAR deemed an accidental handball.
Bournemouth then came close again, with Tavernier forcing Alisson into a smart save, but their failure to capitalise on pressure was swiftly punished.
In the 37th minute, Alexis Mac Allister threaded a fine pass through to Ekitike, whose first touch took him beyond Senesi before calmly opening his account at Anfield on debut.
Two minutes later, the former PSG striker missed a golden opportunity to make it a brace, heading over from close range after some excellent work from Cody Gakpo.
Half time: Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
Second half
The Reds began the second half with intent. Ekitike headed over from Florian Wirtz’s corner before playing a key role in the second goal.
In the 49th minute, he laid the ball off to Gakpo, who dummied twice before driving a precise strike into the far-right corner.
The hosts continued to press, with Mac Allister’s fierce effort from distance forcing Djordje Petrovic into an acrobatic save. Andoni Iraola’s men began to show more aggression, committing a series of fouls as they looked to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm.
Their persistence paid off in the 64th minute when Brooks delivered a low cross from the left for Antoine Semenyo to tap home, halving the deficit. Seven minutes later, Brooks again caused problems, testing Alisson with a blocked shot.
Making it a brace for himself, the striker appeared to have completed the comeback in stunning fashion, after Semenyo drove from deep through a series of Liverpool challenges, before driving a low strike into the bottom right corner, leaving Allison rooted to the spot.
Late drama
With the pressure on, Liverpool surged forward in search of a winner.
Dominik Szoboszlai had two attempts blocked before substitute Federico Chiesa, who was close to leaving the club in the summer, marked his first appearance of the season with the decisive strike. Salah’s teasing cross was not dealt with, and the Italian pounced to fire home for three points.
In classic fashion, Salah then capped the win deep into stoppage time, latching onto a loose ball before guiding a superb left-footed finish into the net. This goal extended his record as the most prolific scorer on Premier League opening days.