Liverpool 4 - Bournmouth 2


Match Date: Friday 15th August 2015

Liverpool Scorers: 

  • Hugo Ekitike (37'), 
  • Cody Gakpo (49'), 
  • Frederico Chiesa (88'), 
  • Mohamad Salah (94') 

Bournmouth Scorers: 

  • Antoine Semenyo (64', 76')

Armchair Match Report

A lot of emotion in this game and rightly so as we started the season with the sad summer news of the passing of Diego Jota.  Its a strange feeling to know that you will never see a player again because he has passed away at such a young age.  However, Anfield was buzzing with the knowledge that the club had finally spent big, and the new season opened with high expectations.

The match turned out to be the perfect advert for the league and audiences worldwide will know that the English premier league is the place to watch competitive football at its best.  Never a one-sided affair as Liverpool fought back to win the game in the final 10 minutes, and the Anfield atmosphere reminding all of England that there is no place better for English football.

Liverpool grew into the game, and eventually scored through one of the new signings in Hugo Ekitike, so far proving to be the player every Liverpool fan hoped he would be...a baby Isak type striker.  Then, just to prove he is not just a plucky scorer, he showed his awareness to hold the ball under defensive pressure for a simple layoff to Gakpo who reminded all the fans that he will be part of any success by netting a goal for himself.  

The game itself also showed the dark side of football when one of the Bounmouth players (Semenyo) was a target of racist abuse, the referee bought this to the notice of the stewards who immediately escorted the abuser out of the ground.  However, following this incident Bourmouth decided to play harder, and took advantage of some Liverpool lapses in missplaced passes, and mananged to counter on two ocassions and levelled the game 2-2.  Both goals scored by ... yes you guessed it Semenyo. This period of play showed Liverpools weakness in transitional play and missjudgement in defending, particularly by Ibrahima Konate.  Both goals could have been prevented.

As the game neared the final 15 minutes, Slot made his substitutions and bought on Chiesa in place of Ekitike.  As Liverpool asserted more control, a cross by Salah caused havoc, and eventually landed near Chiesa who striked the ball into the net, and Andfield roared, it was the 88th minute.  Still Bournmouth did not give up in extra time, but this time Wataru Endo (Liverpools Closer) reinforced the midfield, and kicked the ball away in the final third of Liverpools area, only for the forgotten quiet man of the game Salah to chase the ball down the left of all places, took control and evaded the Bournmouth defence to slot home Liverpools 4th goal in the 94th minute.  You could feel the relief around Anfield and the emotions and tributes to Jota.  

After the game, the Jota chant was being sung by the crowd in rememberence, as all the players left the pitch, Muhammad Salah stood in front of the crowd to absorb the emotions unable to hold back the tears.

The premier league of 2025/26 season had started with a game in rememberence of a much liked player who will never be seen again in the flesh, it showcased that there are no easy games - even for the best teams, it showed the ever present uglyside of racism in football and what it means to win a game for the home supporters.


 










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