Liverpool began their Premier League title defence with a night of raw emotion and late drama at Anfield, where Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah struck late to seal a thrilling victory over Bournemouth.
The occasion carried far more weight than football alone. Before kick-off, Anfield paid a moving tribute to Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in July along with his brother André Silva. Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, and their children were present, greeted by a heartfelt banner reading: “Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Matilda – Anfield will always be your home. You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The Kop responded with song, and Salah later mirrored Jota’s trademark Baby Shark celebration in his honour before breaking down in tears at full-time.
On the pitch, Arne Slot’s men showed the grit that has defined their recent successes. Despite Bournemouth’s resilience, Liverpool’s persistence paid off in the final minutes. Salah, already an icon at Anfield, and substitute Chiesa produced the decisive goals to swing the contest in the Reds’ favour.
The champions dominated possession (62%) and carved out more opportunities, though Bournemouth threatened on the break and pushed Liverpool until the very end. Alisson remained assured between the posts, while Virgil van Dijk marshalled the defence with his usual authority.
For Slot, it was an ideal start to life as Liverpool manager: a performance blending emotional depth, attacking flair, and relentless determination. For the fans, it was a cathartic evening—football providing both solace and celebration in memory of a beloved teammate.
Liverpool’s campaign has only just begun, but if this match is any indication, their pursuit of back-to-back titles will be fuelled by both quality on the field and inspiration drawn from those they’ve lost.
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