2 days ago
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Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa was delighted to score his first Premier League goal for the Reds against Bournemouth on an "emotional" occasion at Anfield.
Before kick-off, there was a powerful rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone and Diogo Jota's song rang out loudly around all four stands throughout the game. Jota's family were in attendance and this was the first competitive match since his tragic passing in a car accident earlier this summer.
"[The goal] was a great moment for me but my thoughts go to Diogo Jota. I think for what we have seen it was his day," Chiesa told BBC Sport post-match.
"The feeling that the fans gave me, chanting his song all the way through the match. It was very emotional, very emotional for me.
"I have to say that after the goal, my thoughts went to his family, his brother Andre. That's the only thing I could say.
"At the end of the day, we have to focus on the football. We wanted to win today. It was a difficult match, we went 2-0 up and then they came back, but we showed why we are champions.
"Of course Diogo would have helped us a lot but unfortunately he was somewhere else and he helped us in another way."
Chiesa struggled to break into the Liverpool team under Arne Slot last season and has had interest from multiple clubs in Italy in the last few weeks. But there is a chance that he could stick around and make an impact off the bench again.
With Liverpool having sold Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez and having only brought in Hugo Ekitike in attack so far, the Reds do have a spare spot on their roster for someone to grab.
"Unfortunately one of the goals didn't count because it was at Wembley and we lost, but today it was the 3-2 goal," Chiesa continued.
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"I helped my team to get an edge in a very difficult game and then at the end we scored for 4-2.
"As I am concerned, all the Premier League games are tough until the end. You never know. We have to continue like this.
"It took me one year to score in the Premier League but as we say in Italian: Better late than never."
Liverpool.com says: Chiesa was a long way off getting minutes last season but if he is happy with coming off the bench here and there this time around, there is an argument for him staying. His late goal against Bournemouth has only strengthened the case.
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