Liverpool kicked off their Premier League title defence with a gripping 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield.
The Reds took a first-half lead through Hugo Ekitike – the new signing’s second goal in as many games, having also netted in Liverpool’s FA Community Shield defeat by Crystal Palace last week.
On the turn of half-time, Cody Gakpo added a second for the champions, weaving his way through defenders to make it 2-0 in the 49th minute.
Soon after, Antoine Semenyo hit back for the Cherries, netting two goals in 13 minutes to level the affair.
However, the Ghana international’s efforts were ultimately in vain, as Federico Chiesa restored order to make it 3-2, before Mohamed Salah got in on the action late on and restored Liverpool’s two-goal lead.
Here, Daily Mail Sport’s Merseyside reporter Lewis Steele gives his player ratings after a tumultuous night at Anfield.
Liverpool kicked off their Premier League title defence with a gripping 4-2 win vs Bournemouth
Arne Slot’s side survived a huge scare after the visitors made it 2-2 in the second half
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1)
Alisson – 5.5
Had little to do, really, despite some fine chances for Bournemouth in the first half from Semenyo and Tavernier.
Jeremie Frimpong – 6
Will be an exciting player to watch this season as he bombs up and down the right wing but was not as effective as he can be here. Defended well.
Ibrahima Konate – 5
Two ridiculously heavy touches in the first 10 minutes had hearts in mouth around Anfield. Settled a bit but a poor outing overall.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
Like Konate, a slightly shaky start but recovered well with a commanding performance.
Milos Kerkez – 5
Ineffective in an attacking sense and sometimes caught out of position going the other way. Early days and it can only get better…
New signing Milos Kerkez was iIneffective going forward and sometimes caught out of position
Dominik Szoboszlai – 6.5
Much better than a sub-par display in the Community Shield last week, putting in a solid shift off the ball.
Alexis Mac Allister – 7.5
What a difference AMA makes. Yep, a poor gag. But it is true, Mac Allister makes Liverpool’s midfield tick and he has been missing with his injury recently.
Mohamed Salah – 7.5
Looked much more lively than the Wembley outing last week, especially in the first half, and took his goal brilliantly. Of course he scored… When does he not?
Florian Wirtz – 6.5
Not at his usual creative best but still some lovely touches and he popped up everywhere, a real heartbeat of the team in the making.
Cody Gakpo – 7.5
Excellent finish to pull Liverpool two goals ahead shortly into the second half. He is perhaps out of fashion at the moment given all the new signings at Anfield but he has a big role to play.
Hugo Ekitike – 8 (MOTM)
Just takes the man of the match award due to a brilliant goal in the first half to make it two in two competitive outings, and an all-round performance that will delight his bosses.
Mohamed Salah was much more lively than he was last week and scored an unsurprising goal
Hugo Ekitike has put in two bright showings in as many games for Liverpool and was MOTM
Substitutes:
Wataru Endo (for Frimpong, 60min) – 5.5
Andy Robertson (for Kerkez, 60) – 6
Curtis Jones (for Mac Allister, 72) – 6
Joe Gomez (for Ekitike, 72) – 6
Federico Chiesa (for Wirtz, 82)
Not used: Mamardashvili, Elliott, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1)
Djordje Petrovic – 6
Could do little about Liverpool’s goals and the new signing commanded his area well. The Serbian made some big saves in the first half as the home team knocked on the door.
Adam Smith – 6
Some good attacking contributions such as skipping past Mac Allister like he was not there in the first half and enticing former colleague Kerkez into a foul.
Bafode Diakite – 5
Premier League debutant, who signed from Lille this summer, had to battle hard with compatriot Ekitike and came out second best.
Marcos Senesi – 6
Lucky to stay on the pitch and left many in Anfield bereft and furious as to why he was able to after a blatant handball attempt.
Adrien Truffert – 7.5
No Bournemouth fan was missing Kerkez after the former Cherries left back put in a disappointing Liverpool league debut and his replacement was brilliant, bombing up and down the left flank and playing lovely crosses. His defensive work was solid, too.
No Bournemouth fan was missing Kerkez after his replacement Adrien Truffert put in a brilliant performance
Tyler Adams – 6.5
Put in a good shift off the ball to keep tabs on Wirtz.
Alex Scott – 6
Has missed a lot of football through injury in the last few years so nice to see Scott starting a season.
David Brooks – 6.5
Brilliant cross for Semenyo’s goal in the second half and the Welshman gave Bournemouth a much-needed dose of energy.
Marcus Tavernier – 6
Should have made it 1-0 to Bournemouth in the first half but got his shot all wrong after Smith squared it to him in space.
Antoine Semenyo – 8
Two brilliant goals. The first one was all about being in the right place at the right time, the second a beautiful individual bit of work.
Evanilson – 6.5
Went close several times including a glancing header that troubled Alisson.
Antoine Semenyo netted a brilliant brace but it was not enough to steal points from Liverpool
Substitutes:
Junior Hamed Traore (for Scott, 74) – 6
Ben Winterburn (for Brooks, 83)
James Hill (for Smith, 90)
Eli Kroupi (for Adams, 90+1)
Not used: Dennis, Araujo, Billing, Rees-Dottin, Soler.
Referee
Anthony Taylor – 5
How he missed the Senesi handball, I still don’t know.
