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It looked like he was heading for the Anfield exit door, but Federico Chiesa was on hand to seal all three points for Liverpool against Bournemouth in their Premier League opener
For all the money Liverpool have spent this summer it was the only signing from last year who rescued them here. Federico Chiesa was left at home for their pre-season tour and the fan favourite looked to be heading for the Anfield exit door.
Yet the £10m recruit from Juventus 12 months ago enamoured himself even more to the home faithful last night as he came off the bench to fire Liverpool back in front. Cult hero status forever confirmed.
Mo Salah got a fourth but it was Chiesa’s strike which won this game for Liverpool against a brave Bournemouth after Arne Slot ’s men had blown a two-goal lead.
If this is one of his final acts in a red shirt they might need to send him a winners’ medal if Liverpool lift this trophy again in May.
READ MORE: Police investigate alleged racist abuse at Anfield as Liverpool release statementREAD MORE: Mo Salah breaks down in front of Kop as Diogo Jota saluted after Liverpool win
With two minutes to go it looked like the defending champions were going to drop points on the first weekend of the new campaign.
Anfield debut boy Hugo Ekitike had scored one and helped Cody Gakpo get the second as Liverpool looked to be in cruise control.
But then a double from the brilliant Antoine Semenyo – who had earlier reported racist abuse from the crowd – brought Bournemouth level on a dramatic night.
Then Salah’s cross somehow dropped down to the Italian and he pulled off an inventive and superb finish to find the corner.
More than £300m spent this summer and counting yet here was the bargain buy from last year against all the odds turning Anfield wild.
Blockbuster TV but a night tinged with great sadness, too. Season openers don’t get more crazy than this.
Salah would get in on the act to ensure there wouldn’t be another way back for Andoni Iraola’s side with a low finish from the edge of the area. He just about squeezed in his usual opening weekend goal.
He stood in front of the Kop after the final whistle and it was something extraordinary. The fans sang Diogo Jota’s name and Salah couldn’t stop the tears flowing.
The football before had stirred a different type of emotion.
If Liverpool are going to play like this every week it will be a rollercoaster ride of a season. Brilliant up front, erratic at the back. But it was also a night to remember their friend and team-mate.
A minute’s silence was impeccably observed before kick-off with mosaics around the ground for Jota and his brother, Andre Silva.
Jota’s family were in the crowd for the tribute, a banner on the Kop reminded them that they will always be thought of in these parts.
The game began and football helped us forget.
How Cherries defender Marcos Senesi wasn’t punished for denying him going clear with a blatant handball is anyone’s guess.
When Semenyo reported racist abuse from a fan in the crowd soon after we were barely 30 minutes into the season. Sad and troubling. It will be investigated after the game was briefly halted.
Ekitike would open the scoring eight minutes before the break as he slotted home after bundling through the Bournemouth backline.
Gakpo doubled the hosts’ lead soon after the restart with his now almost trademark move of coming in off the left before finding the bottom corner. Ekitike had the assist – who needs Alexander Isak?
Bournemouth were not done, though. Not when they have Semenyo. The Cherries will be glad nobody has come for him this summer. What a player.
The first for them was a breakaway with David Brooks marauding down the left before a fizzed cross was met by Semenyo coasting into the middle in the 64th minute.
Then, from the edge of his own box, Semenyo took the ball away and the blue and black shirts of Bournemouth flooded forward as Liverpool tried to scamper back with 14 minutes to go.
Semenyo had options but he remained unchallenged so when he entered Liverpool’s area he just slotted home himself.
It only set up the real drama to come. Oh how Jota would have loved this game.
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