Liverpool began the defence of their Premier League title with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night.
New signings Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike all started for the Reds for their league debuts.
Last season’s top-scorer Mohamed Salah came close to the opener on three minutes with a trademark curler wide of the area, but Djordje Petrovic palmed for a corner-kick.
Despite the scare, the Cherries weren’t overwhelmed and showed forward impetus through David Brooks, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson.
Liverpool, though, were ahead eight minutes to the break when Ekitike started a move from deep and ran in-behind Marcos Senesi to finish calmly into the bottom-corner.
Liverpool increased their lead minutes following halftime when Coady Gakpo came in to the edge of the area after linking up with Ekitike and fired ino the bottom-corner.
Nonetheless, the lead was halved midway in the second period when Antoine Semenyo ran in the centre of the area and connected with a low cross from Brooks to find the net.
Substitutions from the champions followed in the 72nd minute, as Ekitike made way for Joe Gomez while Curtis Jones replaced Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
The Cherries levelled four minutes later when Semenyo collected a loose ball in his own half and raced straight through to the edge of the area to fire past a rooted Alisson Becker.
Liverpool, however, survived the scare with two minutes to go as Federico Chiesa latched onto a loose clearance in the box and volleyed in for his first-ever Premier League goal.
Salah put the clash to bed in the fourth goal minute of additional time when he charged in the area from a long-ball and fired in the bottom-corner to see them to an opening day victory.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
