Liverpool Survive Bournemouth Scare in Thrilling Premier League Opener

Liverpool nearly let a two-goal cushion slip on opening day, but still managed to pull off a dramatic late victory at Anfield. Bournemouth produced a miracle of their own, but in the end it wasn’t enough.

A New Season Begins

The Premier League is back! Excitement? Absolutely. Liverpool had already shocked many by surrendering the Community Shield to Crystal Palace, and now the champions welcomed Bournemouth to Anfield. The Cherries arrived with a reshaped defense — Huijsen, Zabarnyi, and Kerkez all moved on to bigger clubs, with the latter joining Arne Slot’s squad. To make matters worse, attacking leader Justin Kluivert remained sidelined through injury. Surely this would be a straightforward demolition for the reigning champions? Not at all. Quite the opposite.

Before kickoff, the stadium paid tribute to the tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. Then the action began. Liverpool immediately pressed forward, testing former Chelsea keeper Petrovic. Mohamed Salah, cutting inside, unleashed a curling strike toward the top corner, only to see it palmed away brilliantly.

Yet Bournemouth, despite their losses, refused to abandon their principles — high pressing, quick transitions, constant stings in attack. By the 10th minute they had already forced a couple of corners, capitalizing on occasional lapses from Ibrahima Konaté.

Early Drama and Controversy

The 14th minute brought chaos. Marcos Senesi blatantly used his hand to block Hugo Ekitike’s breakaway. This wasn’t a deflection — it was deliberate finger movement. The verdict? A yellow card. Brooks was booked for protesting, and to make it worse, referee Anthony Taylor awarded Bournemouth the free-kick, citing a foul by Ekitike. VAR stayed silent. How was that not a red for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity? English refereeing wasted no time diving into controversy.

Tensions rose. Racist chants from the stands were directed at Antoine Semenyo, possibly triggered by his audacious dribbles. Taylor paused the game, speaking first to Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola, then to captains Virgil van Dijk and Adam Smith. Thankfully, the situation de-escalated and play resumed.

The pause slowed momentum, but a decisive chance arrived in the 35th minute. Smith surged into the box, beating Kerkez with ease before cutting back to Tavernier. It should have been a certain goal, but his tame effort rolled straight into Alisson’s gloves. Liverpool punished the miss instantly. Alexis Mac Allister slid a ball to Ekitike, who used a deflection off Senesi to guide it past Petrovic. The Frenchman’s adventure had only just begun.

Liverpool Take Control, Then Collapse

Barely after halftime, Ekitike turned provider, feeding Cody Gakpo, who danced past two defenders with a feint and slotted low into the net. Pure artistry.

Slot’s halftime talk had clearly worked. Liverpool dominated possession, closed every gap, and appeared ready to cruise. Then, shock. On the hour mark, the coach subbed off two new signings — Kerkez and Frimpong — for Endo and Robertson. Almost immediately, Bournemouth struck back. Che Adams launched a gorgeous diagonal to the left, Van Dijk failed to hold the line, and Brooks squared for Semenyo to finish. Just like in 2023, the Ghanaian punished Liverpool early in the season.

Suddenly, the champions lost their composure. Sitting deep, giving up 70% possession, they looked anything but dominant. Semenyo smelled blood. Salah misplaced a pass to Dominik Szoboszlai, and Hamed Traorè pounced, lofting a ball into space. The Ghanaian sprinted from his own half, tore through Liverpool’s passive backline, and drilled past Alisson for his second. Unbelievable. Anfield stunned. Bournemouth 2, Liverpool 2.

A Hero Emerges Late

But the miracle ended there. Liverpool awoke in time. Gomez, Curtis Jones, and even Federico Chiesa entered. And it was the Italian, often forgotten on the bench, who delivered. In the 88th minute, Alisson launched long, Salah whipped a cross, Petrovic punched awkwardly, and Chiesa smashed the rebound into the net with a thunderous volley. Redemption, and salvation.

Deep into stoppage time, Salah sealed it himself, twisting past Hill and rifling into the far corner. Anfield roared. Legendary scenes.

Not just because of Salah’s goal, but because of the match as a whole. An opening day that had everything: tributes, drama, refereeing scandal, racial tension, a comeback, and a hero’s strike. The Premier League is back — and it’s magnificent.

Published by Patrick Jane
16.08.2025