Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth
by James Nalton
at Anfield 

ANFIELD went through a whole range of emotions on Friday night as Liverpool began their title defence with an uplifting win against Bournemouth.

Heartfelt tributes were paid to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva throughout the evening by everyone at Anfield, where some of the brothers’ family members were also present. 

Several players were clearly emotional throughout while also having to deal with a game of football. Mohamed Salah remained on the pitch alone for some time after the final whistle, teary-eyed as he stood in front of the Kop as they sang Jota’s song.

Bournemouth fans held a banner in tribute to Jota ahead of kick-off, while the Liverpool fans unveiled a stadium-wide mosaic. It was as much a ceremony of remembrance as it was a football match, and gave those in attendance the chance to pay their respects.

Fittingly, goals were scored. Plenty of them. First by Liverpool’s hugely impressive new signing Hugo Ekitike and then by Cody Gakpo, who both paid tribute to Jota in their celebrations.

The occasion was then marred by a Liverpool fan who hurled abuse at Antoine Semenyo while the Bournemouth star was taking a throw-in close to the side of the pitch. 

The game was paused shortly after as Semenyo reported to the officials that he had been racially abused during the incident, and the authorities were informed before the game restarted. The fan in question was escorted out of the stadium at half-time and later arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.

Semenyo went on to score two brilliant second-half goals as Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth continued to show they are a match for any team in this division when they click.

“Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever — not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entire football family stood together,” Semenyo later posted on social media.

Liverpool looked out of ideas with the scores at 2-2 following this rollercoaster of emotions. 

Manager Arne Slot had changed his team a couple of times to the detriment of his side as they let the two-goal lead slip, but his late introduction of Federico Chiesa turned the game on its head once again. The Italian, who has become a cult figure during his year at Liverpool, netted the winning goal before Salah added a fourth.

Despite his lack of minutes played for the club, Chiesa’s song is one of the most popular at Anfield, and the goal produced an excited rendition of it. They were joyous scenes, as if a universally known song was being played at a music festival, which contributed to this occasion of celebration and commemoration.

Salah may have been standing alone on the pitch at the end, but he was together with thousands of fans in Anfield and millions watching around the world in a moving moment in remembrance of Diogo Jota.