The extremely anticipated new season kicked off at Anfield on Friday, with some supporters nonetheless wiping away tears from their eyes on a brilliant, sunny day. Those self same supporters possible wiped very totally different tears away as soon as the ultimate whistle sounded following a six-goal affair that noticed the house membership stroll away with a 4-2 victory.
The feelings had been on full show forward of the opener between Liverpool and Bournemouth as followers paid tribute to late Reds star , who tragically handed away alongside together with his brother André Silva in a automobile crash earlier this summer season.
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Banners, indicators, balloons and scarves emblazoned with Jota’s identify, face, and No. 20 package quantity had been raised above heads by these in attendance when the collective sang out Liverpool’s beloved anthem, “You’ll By no means Stroll Alone.”
Broadcast of the match confirmed some followers teary-eyed whereas singing the standard tune. The membership’s star participant, Mohamed Salah, seemed upward whereas the anthem rang out by way of the bottom.
A memorial stuffed with flowers sits exterior Anfield. – Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Pictures
The general public handle announcer known as for a interval of silence in reminiscence of “our eternally 20” and his brother, who died on July 3. Liverpool gamers stood side-by-side with their arms draped over each other’s shoulders as followers displayed a collective mosaic signal within the stands that spelled out “DJ 20” and “AS 30,” proven in inexperienced, purple and white colours – the colorway of the brothers’ native Portugal flag.
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A black-and-white image of the brothers was proven on video boards as some gamers bowed their heads in the course of the second.
The match received underway with the group filled with enthusiasm. Within the twentieth minute, in reflection of Jota’s quantity, followers across the floor stood, clapped in unison and chanted in honor of their much-loved ahead.
Gamers and coaches on each golf equipment had been carrying black armbands.
Liverpool followers additionally honored Jota on the annual Group Protect match .
Title defenders start quest to repeat
As for the match itself, the reigning Premier League champions seemed the half in an exhilarating win that includes their dramatically modified roster.
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Liverpool are favored to repeat as title-winners after bolstering the squad with a number of high-profile signings, together with a trio from the Bundesliga: and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayern Leverkusen and Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. New defender Milos Kerkez began as properly and confronted his former aspect on Friday.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo breaks away from the Liverpool defence within the season opener. – Michael Steele/Getty Pictures
Ekitike will eternally bear in mind this present day after he scored on his Anfield debut. Within the thirty seventh minute, the brand new striker powered by way of the Bournemouth backline to fit dwelling, giving the house aspect a 1-0 lead. The Frenchman held his fingers to kind the No. 20 – Jota’s former quantity.
The match went to half with that rating – a nasty signal for the opponents. In accordance with the Premier League, going into Friday, Liverpool had but to lose any of the membership’s final 155 league matches at dwelling when the Reds have led on the break (W141 D14).
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Ekitike was concerned in Liverpool’s second tally too. The Reds doubled the lead within the forty ninth minute when the ahead softly laid off the ball to Cody Gakpo, who dribbled throughout the realm to set himself up for a shot that discovered the again of Djordje Petrovic’s aim.
Bournemouth struck again by way of star ahead Antoine Semenyo. Within the sixty fourth minute, the Cherries caught the Reds on the break with David Brooks centering to Semenyo, who one-timed the ball previous Alisson Becker.
Semenyo struck once more simply over 10 minutes later with an exquisite particular person effort to degree the match at two.
Within the 76th minute, Semenyo was performed by way of on one other quick break, shortly driving at Liverpool’s aim with pace. He struck his second tally of the match into the underside nook, sending the Liverpool trustworthy right into a quiet hush because the lead was now gone.
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However Liverpool had a glance about them after the equalizer on a day they had been celebrating the lifetime of their former teammate.
Because the clock approached the ninetieth minute, up stepped Reds substitute Federico Chiesa – for a second that he too will possible always remember.
Salah’s teasing cross into the realm wasn’t adequately handled by Petrovic or the Cherries’ protection, with Chiesa stepping as much as drive dwelling the go-ahead aim as Anfield erupted.
Within the 94th minute, Salah put the proverbial cherry on prime with a aim of his personal, which capped the six-goal thriller. The Egyptian took on 4 Bournemouth defenders and niftily averted a deal with to attain the ultimate aim of the evening. He seemed to have tears in his eyes as he acknowledged the group after the sport.
Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa celebrates after scoring the successful aim over Bournemouth. – Ian Hodgson/AP
“It’s wonderful to play right here, as you possibly can see after we received the group – was unbelievable. I loved each minute taking part in on that pitch, so I simply wish to keep centered and do extra for the workforce,” Ekitike mentioned after the match, in line with PremierLeague.com
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“The tribute to Diogo Jota was wonderful and it makes it laborious to clarify my emotions proper now,” he’s quoted as saying.
The Arne Slot-led membership received the title in his first season in cost final yr and will probably be trying to information the Reds to their first repeat crown in over forty years.
Racism allegation marred match
Within the twenty sixth minute, broadcast video confirmed a fan partaking with Semenyo whereas the ahead went to retrieve a ball for an impending throw-in. The fan will be seen shouting and pointing at Semenyo simply earlier than the Ghanaian restarted play.
A short while later, play was quickly suspended as either side’ managers and a few gamers gathered with the match referee, Anthony Taylor, within the technical space to apparently focus on the second between the fan and the participant.
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The Sky Sports activities broadcast, citing the Premier League Match Centre, mentioned Semenyo had been topic to a racist remark from the group.
The official X account for the Match Centre posted an announcement that mentioned the league would examine the incident.
“We provide our full help to the participant and each golf equipment. Racism has no place in our recreation, or anyplace in society,” the assertion learn partially.
The English FA additionally launched an announcement following the incident, stating the group was “involved” in regards to the alleged “discrimination from an space of the group” and pledged to work with authorities, each golf equipment and match officers to “set up the information and make sure the acceptable motion is taken.”
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A Liverpool assertion mentioned the membership was conscious of the alleged incident and can help the “ongoing police investigation.”
This story has been up to date with extra data.
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