The champions started with a win but the night was overshadowed by Antoine Semenyo reporting he was subject to racist abuse The champions started with a win but the night was overshadowed by Antoine Semenyo reporting he was subject to racist abuse Max MathewsAugust 16, 2025 at 7:21 AM EDT Getty Images

Champions Liverpool sealed a late 4-2 win against Bournemouth in a thrilling opening game of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

New striker Hugo Ekitike scored (37’) and set up Cody Gakpo (49’) but the visitors fought back via a superb Antoine Semenyo double (64’, 76’).

In a dramatic finish, substitute Federico Chiesa (88’) restored the hosts’ lead, before Mohamed Salah netted a fourth in added time (90+4’).

The match had earlier been paused after Bournemouth forward Semenyo reported being racially abused by someone in the crowd.

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Premier League opener paused after Antoine Semenyo reports racist abuse from the stands

Tomorrow, we have live coverage of Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester City.

Then on Sunday, Manchester United vs Arsenal is the game we’ll be covering.

Hope you’re looking forward to it as much as we are.

Getty ImagesMonday, August 25: Newcastle (Away), Premier League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET.

A total of 6.0 goals per game in the Premier League this season.

Respect it.

Reflecting on the match, that was some effort by Bournemouth given the amount of change there this summer.

But they had next to nothing to bring off the bench and it showed in the last 10 minutes.

And Liverpool boss Arne Slot also spoke to Sky Sports about the allegations of racist abuse directed at Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo. Here is what he had to say:

💬 “The club made it clear with the statement. We don’t want this in football, we don’t want this to happen in the stadium, especially not at Anfield.

“We should talk about that for a long time, because it’s unacceptable that something like this happens in a stadium, let alone at Anfield.

“It unfortunately takes the shine (away from the game) because our fans were unbelievable when you talk about the tribute for Diogo (Jota).

“I did not hear it, I only can say that this should definitely not happen in the stadium.”

This says it all about Diogo Jota’s impact and legacy as a player at Liverpool.

After so many special moments and goals in their famous red shirt, his manager Arne Slot felt the urge to call for the Portugal international to come on as Liverpool when through a tough moment at 2-2.

For the saddest of reasons, he could not. Slot said:

💬 “Normally, when it is 2-2, you know which player I would have been looking for and it is Diogo Jota…

“But I couldn’t bring him on for terrible reasons.”

That is how Liverpool manager Arne Slot feels, anyway, after a summer of change in his playing squad at Anfield.

After a thrilling match, here is how he reflected on the result when chatting to Sky Sports:

💬 “It was a great game to watch, this is what makes football so great. Three parties who wanted a good game — us, Bournemouth and the referee.

“No time wasting, good intensity. They did not give up, they kept fighting to get to 2-2.

“We played them last season here and at 3-0 up they just kept going. We could see today how fit this team that we faced was.

“That is credit to them. We have lost many players during the summer but we didn’t lose the mentality.”

It was nice that Liverpool manager Arne Slot made a point of having a quiet, consoling word with Antoine Semenyo at the full-time whistle.

Speaking of which, Slot is chatting to UK broadcaster Sky Sports right now.

We’ll bring you what he says shortly.

And here’s Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, reflecting on the reports of racist abuse directed at his player Antoine Semenyo while speaking to Sky Sports:

💬 “I didn’t notice it live but Antoine and the referee explained it to me. The person has been identified. It was a great game of football, first game of the season and we don’t want to be talking about these things.

“We should be past this stage but people don’t behave correctly and it’s a shame. For every step we do forward, these things happen and it is a problem. He (Semenyo) did what he had to do. He reported it straight away to the referee.

“He did not lose his mind but he was probably thinking about it in the next minutes. The Liverpool manager and the players feel it the same, even though it is a Liverpool supporter — they do not want them with them.

“Now he has to speak to the officials and the police. But it will be in his head there and it shouldn’t be like this.”

The Premier League Match Centre made a statement on X. Here it is…

💬 “Tonight’s match was temporarily paused during the first half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.

“This is in line with the Premier League’s on-field anti-discrimination protocol.

“The incident at Anfield will now be fully investigated. We offer our full support to the player and both clubs. Racism has no place in our game, or anywhere in society.

“We will continue to work with stakeholders and authorities to ensure our stadiums are an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”

Liverpool’s statement on the reports of racism is as follows:

💬 “Liverpool Football Club is aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against Bournemouth. We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society or football.

“The club is unable to comment further as tonight’s alleged incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully.”

English football’s governing body, the Football Association (FA), released a statement on social media site X via a spokesperson:

💬 “We are very concerned about the allegation of discrimination from an area of the crowd, which was reported to the match officials during the Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Bournemouth.

“Incidents of this nature have no place in the game, and we will work closely with the match officials, the clubs and the relevant authorities to establish the facts and ensure the appropriate action is taken.”

Bournemouth captain Adam Smith has been speaking to Sky Sports on the back of that result for his side, where their dominant feeling is anger after reports that Antoine Semenyo was racially abused in the first half.

Here’s what he had to say:

💬 “It’s totally unacceptable, I’m in shock it happened. In this day and age it shouldn’t be happening. I don’t know how Ant has played on and scored those goals.

“Something needs to be done, taking the knee and doing things is not having an effect. We’ll support him and hopefully he’ll be OK.

“I wanted him to react because that’s what I would have done. It shows what type of man he is not to react and carry on, in the moment to report it to the ref.

“You’re angry, shocked. I said to the ref that I wanted him (the fan) removed immediately but he said they have to go through the process and let the police deal with it. It was handled in the right way but I’m just so angry.

“We’ve had discussions with the Premier League about it but I’ve been speaking to the lads in there and we don’t know what more we can do. I feel sorry that Ant’s had to take that tonight.”

Especially considering he reported that he was subject to racist abuse during the first half.

That’s how you do it.

Antoine Semenyo is genuinely one of the most thrilling players to watch… pace, power and arguably the most two-footed player in the league.

So many clubs would love to have him. He has everything.

Such an impressive player and character.

A 17-year-old Hugo Ekitike trained with Reims’ senior players for a week.

Naturally, he didn’t make the first-team squad for their next game, but Ekitike wasn’t happy and told manager David Guion he had made the wrong decision. Guion said:

💬 “The kid is very, very, very sure of himself… That’s his big quality. He doesn’t doubt himself.”

Speak to those that witnessed his rise to prominence in France and they will paint a picture of the unflinching self-confidence that has driven Ekitike all the way to Liverpool.

GO FURTHER

Hugo Ekitike has always been ready for you to notice him

He scored on his Premier League debut but how did Liverpool’s new signing find his first taste of league football? Here’s what Hugo Ekitike had to say when speaking to Sky Sports:

💬 “It was a good performance, I could do better but the most important thing tonight was the win and the mentality we showed. We wanted to win for Diogo (Jota) and that is what we did, so I’m happy.

“There are so many things to do better. I can do a lot of things, I will get better and do more for this team. I also changed the way I play here, it’s different football with more intensity.

“The defenders are stronger, the space is tight here. I had so much more space in Germany. We have to find the way to succeed.”

With Gianluigi Donnarumma frozen out and Mateo Retegui now in Saudi, Federico Chiesa’s unexpected goal from the bench will be welcomed by Gennaro Gattuso.

Nice to see how pleased staff and team-mates were for Chiesa after that instinctive go-ahead goal.

Hope he builds on it, even as an impact player from the bench.

That’s some finish from Federico Chiesa and it is just reward for his patience and perseverance in a Liverpool shirt.

A lovely volley and a cracking celebration to boot.

موقعنا مخصص لعشاق الأهلي، حيث نقدم تغطية شاملة لكل ما يتعلق بـ مباراة الأهلي من أخبار عاجلة، مواعيد المباريات، تشكيلات الفريق، وتحليلات دقيقة للأداء. ستجد هنا متابعة لحظة بلحظة لنتائج الأهلي في الدوري المصري ودوري أبطال إفريقيا، بالإضافة إلى أرشيف لأهم المباريات واللحظات التاريخية للنادي. هدفنا أن نكون المصدر الموثوق لكل مشجع أهلاوي يبحث عن أحدث المعلومات والتفاصيل حول فريقه المفضل، مع محتوى متجدد يلبي شغف الجماهير الحمراء.

هذا الموقع يجمع فقط المقالات ذات الصلة. لعرض النسخة الأصلية، يرجى نسخ وفتح الرابط التالي:How Liverpool’s late surge stunned Bournemouth in a six-goal thriller to begin the new season - The Athletic