(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media, Imago)

Oliver Walton

Sat 16 August 2025 8:45, UK

Bournemouth’s second-half fight-back at Anfield was not enough for them to grab a point as Liverpool bagged two late goals to win 4-2 in the first game of the new Premier League season.

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Liverpool found the breakthrough early on as Hugo Ekitike netted on his Premier League debut in the first-half, and Cody Gakpo doubled the Reds’ lead in the 50th minute with the game looking beyond the visitors’ reach.

A spirited comeback was soon set in motion by Antoine Semenyo as he halved the hosts’ lead, and the Ghanaian forward then grabbed a brace to level it with a fantastic counter-attacking goal in the 76th minute.

(Credit:Imago)

It was not enough for them to go back down south with a valuable point though, as Federico Chiesa and Mo Salah each scored late on to give Liverpool an opening day win on Merseyside.

Bournemouth were impressive for the most part at Anfield, despite conceding four times, and here are three winners and three losers as Andoni Iraola’s side tasted defeat on Friday (August 15).

Semenyo was the alleged victim of racial abuse in the first-half, and he appeared visibly emotional on the pitch after he had reported the incident to Anthony Taylor.

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The 25-year-old did not let it get to him, however, as he netted two superbly taken goals in the second-half to give his side a genuine chance of a result at Anfield, and even though it eventually proved futile, he can emerge out of this game with his head held high for his massively-impressive performance.

Truffert made his competitive debut for the Cherries away to Liverpool up against the likes of Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz in what can certainly be described as a baptism of fire.

The Cherries’ summer signing was a menace all game down the left hand side with constant tackles and blocks to deny the Reds’ attacks, and he played much better than his opposite number Milos Kerkez, who he has effectively replaced in Iraola’s side for the season ahead.

Veteran right-back Smith put in a similarly strong performance on the other flank for Bournemouth, despite his side conceding three times while he was playing.

AppearancesGoalsAssists403634Smith’s Bournemouth career stats

Club-captain Smith made seven clearances, won three of his four ground duels and even created a big chance [Fotmob] across his 90 minute showing, and he even kept Mo Salah quiet, with the Egyptian star only able to score once the 34-year-old had been taken off late on.

The Argentine centre-back had a shocker of epic proportions at Anfield, but it could have been a whole lot worse had Senesi been sent off in the 13th minute for what looked to be a clear handball and denial of a goalscoring opportunity, with his blushes spared by VAR.

It is no wonder that Senesi has been linked with a move away from Bournemouth this summer, as aside from that controversial call, he allowed Ekitike to run free into the box for the first goal, was left sprawling for Gakpo’s second and could barely get near a red shirt for the third and fourth strikes.

Poor.

Evanilson took the Premier League by storm last season with 10 goals in 31 games after a summer move to the Cherries, but he got off to a poor start this time around with an ineffective showing that was overshadowed by Semenyo’s brilliance.

He clearly tried to get into the game and help his side achieve a famous draw, yet had the least touches of any outfield player (25), placed all three of his shots off target and only won three of his nine duels in the air [Fotmob] – the Brazilian forward will know he must do better in big games like these.

Young Cherries midfielder Winterburn will feel hard done by to be on this list of losers, but he unfortunately had a huge hand in a Liverpool goal that he will struggle to forgot in a hurry.

The 20-year-old was only brought on in the 84th minute, and just four minutes later he was culpable for Chiesa’s decisive strike as his weak headed clearance in the box was caught sweetly by the Italian forward, who made it 3-2 with aplomb and won the game for his side.

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