Match reportChiesa and Salah strike late to earn Liverpool Anfield victory over Bournemouth

The Reds opened up their Premier League campaign in dramatic fashion at Anfield, netting in minutes 88 and 90+4 to earn three points.

Hugo Ekitike had earlier struck on his league debut to break the deadlock, before Cody Gakpo doubled the advantage in the second half.

Antoine Semenyo, however, found the target twice to haul the Cherries back onto level terms, though the late efforts of Chiesa and Salah earned Arne Slot's side a winning start to 2025-26.

Team

Alexis Mac Allister started for the Reds in the only change from the FA Community Shield outing last weekend.

Joe Gomez returned among the substitutes, while Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz made their maiden league appearances.

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez (Robertson, 60), Wirtz (Chiesa, 82), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Jones, 72), Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike (Gomez, 72), Frimpong (Endo, 60).

Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Elliott, Nyoni, Ngumoha.

First half

The match began at a swift pace with both sides working opportunities during the opening 15 minutes.

Ekitike first saw a shot from range easily saved, ahead of Salah producing a more forceful attempt after he cut in from the right to test goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

Virgil van Dijk then glanced a header over the bar from a Salah delivery as he turned provider, with the Reds pressing forward in search of an opener.

In response, though, Bournemouth fashioned the best chance of the initial exchanges.

Adrien Truffert delivered a dipping cross from the left into the area, finding the run of Semenyo, though the winger was unable to send his half-volley on target.

Van Dijk again forced a save with a header from a corner, while Marcus Tavernier forced Alisson Becker into action after a cutback from the byline via Adam Smith.

Ahead of the interval, it was Liverpool who finally broke the deadlock through new forward Ekitike on his competitive Anfield debut.

The No.22 drove through the centre of the Cherries defence with real purpose and saw the ball rebound to his feet before producing a calm and collected finish into the back of the net.

The Frenchman then almost doubled his and the Reds' tally just two minutes later, heading over a Gakpo cross at the back post.

There was to be a frantic end to proceedings in the first half, with Liverpool breaking clear only to see Bournemouth deny Salah's pass to Gakpo on the edge of the area.

The visitors then sprinted forward themselves, a David Brooks drilled effort flying wide and past the post.

Second half

The game had barely seen any further action before Liverpool doubled their lead after the change of ends.

Ekitike and Gakpo combined well in the final third to create the opportunity, with the latter delivering a precise finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The No.18 collected the ball from his teammate initially, settled himself with a number of touches across the pitch, and found space around the Cherries defence to score well.

Mac Allister then tested the reactions of Petrovic from distance, ahead of Wirtz dragging a shot inches past the post after the hour mark.

However, Bournemouth reduced the deficit in the 64th minute following a swift break forward down the left flank.

Brooks' low first-time ball found the run of Semenyo in the area and he nudged it past Alisson to get the away side on the scoresheet.

They were growing in confidence following the strike and with 14 minutes remaining got themselves on level terms.

It was Semenyo again who broke forward at pace, sprinting clear from his own half to shoot low again into the goal with Liverpool's defence stretched.

The Reds, though, remained steadfast in their belief and pushed on to find the back of the net twice in the closing stages to retake the lead and earn victory.

In minute 88, substitute Chiesa sparked wild celebrations by being in the right place at the right time to volley home, with a loose ball finding its way to the forward in the area following a Salah cross.

The Egyptian then got on the scoresheet himself in the fourth minute of added time, moving onto his right in the penalty box to fire an inch-perfect shot into the far corner.

Attendance: 60,315