The Premier League season kicked off with the reigning champs Liverpool facing Bournemouth at Anfield. Liverpool come into the season as the favorites to repeat as champions with Bournemouth looking to surprise the reigning champs and carry on the momentum of a top half finish a season ago.
It wouldn't be the Premier League without some controversy and we got some right away with Bournemouth center back Senesi seemingly batting a ball out of Ekitike's path with his right hand. In my mind (and many others), Senesi should've seen straight red but no card was given and play carried on. The match was then pause again as Bournemouth's Semenyo was the victim of some racial abuse from a Liverpool fan who was promptly thrown out of the game, another sad staple of English football but thankfully the situation was dealt with quickly by Liverpool's security.
The game opened up with the first goal coming from one of Liverpool's big money signings in Hugo Ekitike scoring in the 38th minute as a tackle ricocheted off Senesi back to Ekitike who finished the movement with a routine finish to Petrovic's left. Poor tackle attempt by Senesi as Ekitike continues to score on debuts for his new club (scored in the Community Shield a week ago).
The second half kicked off with a brilliant move by Liverpool's Gakpo as he sent multiple Bournemouth defenders to the ground with fake shots from right outside the 18 before tucking a beautiful goal into the bottom right corner. Liverpool's momentum wouldn't last long however as in the 64th minute Bournemouth hit back with a nicely worked counter attack. Bournemouth's Brooks received a ball up the left wing before whipping in a cross to Semenyo who finished past Alisson to open up the scoring for Bournemouth's campaign. And Semenyo would keep Bournemouth's momentum going as he received the ball deep in his own half and finished off a beautiful solo movement with a goal into the bottom right corner. Questionable defending by Konate and Van Dijk as nobody took on Semenyo as he dribbled the length of the pitch but nothing can take away from that goal.
We reached the 89th minute at 2-2 before Liverpool's substitute Chiesa gave Liverpool the lead back with a classy volley off a failed clearance. The evening was then capped off for the home side as Salah does what he does best and scores on the opening matchweek in the Premier League. This time off a clearance that Salah outran everyone to before finishing into the bottom right corner with his weak foot.
Liverpool Lineup and Match Ratings
Starting 11:
Ekitike - 9. Thought he was everywhere on the pitch while also getting the goal involvements you are looking for from a striker. Goal and an assist on his Premier League debut, hard to ask for much more
Gakpo - 9. Phenomenal game from Cody Gakpo as there has been plenty of speculation as to who would play on the left for Liverpool. Certainly earned the spot for the time being, goal + plenty of chances created
Wirtz - 5. Underwhelming debut for the biggest money spend of the summer
Salah - 8. Quiet until his late goal which once again showed his quality as a player
Szoboszial - 5. Error that led to a Bournemouth goal but did a decent job controlling the game in the midfield
Mac Alister - 6. Grabbed an assist in a solid game
Kerkez - 5. Nothing too much to note
Van Dijk - 8. Was clearing everything that came his way
Konante - 5. Was decent but not sure what he was doing on Semenyo's second goal
Frimpong - 5. Didn't get involved much in either the attack or defense but did have some nice overlapping runs to give Salah some more space
Subs:
Endo (59) - assist
Robertson (59)
Gomez (71)
Jones (71)
Chiesa (81) - goal
Bournemouth Lineup and Match Ratings:
Evanilson - 5. Failed to register a shot on target, caught offside once
Tavernier - 6. Positive impact on the game, looked dangerous at times
Brooks - 6. Decent game, nice cross on the assist for Bournemouth's first goal
Semenyo - 10. Crazy game after signing a long term deal with the club, brought Bournemouth back into it and almost secured them a point at Anfield
Scott - 5. Nothing too much to note
Adams - 7. Thought he was really solid defensively
Truffert - 6. Solid game
Senesi - 2. Should've been sent off for a handball, error leading to Liverpool's first goal
Diakite - 5. Didn't have much of an impact but can't single handedly be blamed for any of the goals
Smith - 5. Meh
Petrovic - 6. Few nice saves, but hard to go higher than 6 when you give up 4 goals
Subs:
Traore (73)
Winterburn (83)
Hill (90)
Kroupi (90)
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