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Liverpool launched its Premier League season and title defense with a thrilling 4-2 triumph against Bournemouth on Friday at Anfield.
The Reds netted twice in the closing stages to secure all three points at Anfield. Arne Slot's team surged into a commanding 2-0 advantage courtesy of strikes from Premier League debutant Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo. Nevertheless, a rapid brace from Antoine Semenyo completely transformed the contest to drag the away side back into it.
Yet with just two minutes of regular time left, substitute Federico Chiesa restored the Reds' lead before Mohamed Salah confirmed the home victory during added time.
The match also marked Liverpool's inaugural competitive encounter at Anfield following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a motor accident last month.
Responding to the victory, Linda Pizzuti, spouse of Liverpool's principal owner John W Henry, posted on Instagram: "The 2025-2026 campaign starts with three points for Liverpool, with beautiful and meaningful tributes to Diogo Jota #20. Emotional and powerful start at Anfield for what looks like an exciting season ahead. Let's go."
Following the encounter, Reds manager Slot commented: "If you have half an hour [I can explain how I feel]! But the main emotion should be how impressive and powerful the tribute for Diogo was.
"The banner the Kop showed, the way You'll Never Walk Alone was sung, the way they sung for Diogo before the game, in the first minute, after 20 minutes and at the end of the game.
"It was all so, so impressive and so powerful and that is, I think, what my main emotion is after the game. Then, there was even a game that ended in 4-2 where a lot of things happened."
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Salah was reduced to tears at the final whistle as the Kop sang Jota's name and Slot was also asked about the Egyptian's frame of mind afterwards.
He added: "I am not sure because I didn't ask him. I actually didn't want to go in after the game because I found it so special how our fans reacted today and how they kept on singing at the end of the game for Diogo.
"I think the whole day and the whole game is, every time you think you cannot expect more from Liverpool fans they top this or they overperform. Again, what a tribute and I think Mo felt after the game how special that was and probably he felt the emotion.
"We all knew his family is here, his wife is here, and his children are here. For them it might be special to hear how much he is loved over here and with the fans and the banner and what they did. But we also feel the emotions of how much grief they still have.
"That mixed emotions maybe led to Mo being emotional and I think I felt the same without being in tears, but I definitely felt the same emotions."
English (US) ·