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Liverpool 4–2 Bournemouth: Chiesa and Salah Score Late on Epic Opening Night

It was a thrilling night under the lights as the 2025–26 Premier League season kicked off.
Federico Chiesa sent Anfield wild with a late third.
Federico Chiesa sent Anfield wild with a late third. | PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Liverpool paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva as they welcomed Bournemouth to Anfield for the opening game of the 2025–26 Premier League season.

The Reds, favourites to retain their Premier League crown, have retired Jota’s No.20 across men’s, women’s and academy teams, and there was an impeccably observed moment of silence for the forward and his brother as well as the unveiling of a beautiful mosaic.

On the field, it looked like business as usual for Liverpool, racing into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from new signing Hugo Ekitiké and Cody Gakpo. But Antoine Semenyo, who reported to officials in the first half that a racist comment had been made towards him, scored a terrific second half brace to bring Bournemouth level.

Substitute Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah rescued a frantic Liverpool, however, scoring two late goals on a scintillating night under the lights—the latter scoring a record extending 10th goal on the opening day of Premier League seasons.


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Toby Cudworth
TOBY CUDWORTH

Toby Cudworth is Lead Editor for SI FC. A Premier League, EFL and UEFA accredited journalist, Cudworth is a graduate of the University of Gloucestershire, where he studied Broadcast Journalism. He previously worked for 90min as a writer, academy manager, editor and eventually content lead, before joining Sports Illustrated in May 2025. A lifelong supporter of West Ham United, he still can’t quite believe they won a European trophy and feels nature is healing now that results have slipped back into the yo-yo patterns of the last 30 years.