Liverpool launched their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night, marking Arne Slot’s first league match in charge with a display full of attacking flair and defensive frailty.
French forward Hugo Ekitike scored on his league debut in the 37th minute, slotting past goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic after a slick move. The match began with an emotional tribute to former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in July, with a minute’s silence observed and players wearing black armbands.
Cody Gakpo doubled the champions’ lead early in the second half, but Bournemouth fought back through Antoine Semenyo, who struck twice in the 64th and 77th minutes to stun the home crowd. The visitors dominated possession during that spell, forcing Virgil van Dijk into a record number of clearances for a Premier League game at Anfield.
Liverpool regained control late on when substitute Federico Chiesa pounced on a defensive mix-up to score in the 88th minute. Mohamed Salah then sealed the points deep into stoppage time with his 10th career goal on Premier League opening weekends, extending his remarkable record of scoring in eight of his nine season openers for the Reds.
The result saw four Liverpool debutants — Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, and Ekitike — feature in the starting XI, the most ever for a reigning champion in an opening match.
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