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Federico Chiesa races away in celebration after putting Liverpool in front against Bournemouth(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The last time Bournemouth were at Anfield 11 months ago, Federico Chiesa was given his Liverpool debut with a late cameo.

That the striker went on to play only another 86 minutes in the Reds’ charge to the Premier League title highlights why the Italy international would reportedly welcome a return to his homeland.

Indeed, it said much that when the again impressive Hugo Ekitike was substituted 71 minutes into Bournemouth's latest Anfield visit, Arne Slot instead opted to move attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz into the number nine role rather than bring on Chiesa.

But after Liverpool threw away a two-goal lead, it was towards the Italian that Slot turned to on 82 minutes.

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The decision was rewarded within six minutes, Chiesa firing an improvised volley into the bottom corner after Bournemouth had failed to properly clear a ball into the six-yard box.

Earlier, Ekitike had built on his fine showing in the Community Shield with a well-taken opener and an assist for Cody Gakpo’s second.

After all, never before has a reigning Premier League champion undergone such an immediate transformation.

The Reds here became the first such title winners to name four top-flight debutants in their starting line-up for the opening day, with £116million record signing Wirtz joined by Jeremie Frimpong, Ekitike and former Bournemouth man Milos Kerkez.

Liverpool may by definition the club to beat this season, but the team is very much an unknown in stark contrast to the continuity that helped them romp to the championship last season.

And, clearly, the adaptation will not be without its teething troubles.

Slot’s call to replace both full-backs on the hour was a bold one, even if Kerkez, perhaps guilty of trying too hard against his former club, suffered a tough baptism.

Wirtz, meanwhile, saw his creativity stifled in the first half by some close attention from a typically abrasive Bournemouth, although he showed signs of becoming accustomed to the physicality of the Premier League after the interval.

But it was notable that as Liverpool chased a winning goal, every player on the pitch had been part of Slot’s title-winning squad.

For the fresh intake watching from the bench, the dramatic finale was a demonstration of how their new team-mates have acquired a habit of digging deep when required.

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Leoni says hello

Still they keep coming.

As Liverpool supporters prepared to bring in the new Premier League season, another fresh face was spotted in the directors’ box in the Main Stand.

A few hours before kick-off, the Reds confirmed their latest signing with 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni putting pen to paper on a six-year contract having arrived for an initial £26million from Parma.

Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace may still be to follow.

And Leoni will have watched Liverpool’s central defence once again show signs of creaking.

Virgil van Dijk wasn’t quite at his imperious best and was slow to react for one goal, while Ibrahima Konate overall failed to convince and made too many wrong choices.

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Of course, it didn’t help that, in defensive midfield, Ryan Gravenberch was suspended and Alexis Mac Allister is understandably not quite up to speed after his injury absence.

Dominik Szoboszlai put in a solid shift in midfield, and was evidently keen to atone for being partly at fault for Bournemouth’s first goal.

The revamped Reds, though, are very much a work in progress.