Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth, heartfelt tributes, VAR controversy and reports of racism, along with a huge glitch for Virgin Media TV viewers.
In his programme notes for tonight’s game, Liverpool manager Arne Slot said… “we know that this will be a very emotional occasion, given it is the first league game we have played since we lost Diogo and Andre.
“As I have said previously, the tributes that have been paid throughout the football world, and especially within the LFC community, have been truly special, and I know that tonight we will come together to honour them once more.
“I believe that Diogo’s wife, his children and his family will be in attendance and it is important that, as a club, we show that they will always have our love and support as they deal with this most tragic of situations. We are there for them always.”
Fans paid respects to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva with an emotional rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ sung around Anfield as the players line up arm in arm.
That was followed by a minute’s silence for Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, while placards are held up to spell out DJ20 and AS30. There was also chanting in tribute for Jota in the 20th minute.
Then the game saw huge controversy, Hugo Ekitike was about to break through on goal with the ball bouncing awkwardly for Marcos Senesi, striking his thigh and then his elbow. He then saw Ekitike set to break away and moved his hand to try and push the ball away.
Stephen Warnock (on BBC Radio 5 Live at Anfield) on the handball by Marcos Senesi when Liverpool were looking to break: “I thought it was a ricochet from the thigh onto the arm. His arm was moving in a natural position. There was a lot of uproar around the ground but I didn’t really see it as being a handball.”
Premier League Match Centre tweeted: “The referee’s call of no red card to Senesi was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed not to be a clear handball offence nor denial of a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO), due to the distance from goal.”
VAR says no, but @Carra23 was convinced that was handball 🧐 pic.twitter.com/kS8hOEwn7s
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
VAR have said they couldn’t intervene in the Senesi handball, as it wasn’t denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity 👇 pic.twitter.com/cTB8aANuIJ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher: “That was handball! He knew what he was doing. The VAR is saying it’s almost as if he didn’t know anything about it. But how can the VAR say that? He knew he was in trouble. The information the referee got there was not correct. He threw his hand at it. I’m not sure it would have been a sending off but what I just heard from the VAR didn’t happen.”
According to the FA’s Laws of the Game: “Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offence, the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area).
“Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offence and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned.”
In the 29th minute, referee Anthony Taylor then brought both sets of managers into a huddle with play stopped. The Premier League then confirmed Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused by someone in the crowd.
Premier League Match Centre wrote: “Tonight’s match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth 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.”
Antoine Semenyo was subject to racist abuse from one Liverpool fan.
That’s why the game has been paused.
30 minutes into a new season and nothing changes. It’s disgusting. pic.twitter.com/ztDdpcVlwO
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) August 15, 2025
“It overshadows what should be an amazing night. The first day of the Premier League season, a beautiful day.”
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher speak after an allegation of a racist comment aimed at Antoine Semenyo from a member of the crowd at Anfield. pic.twitter.com/ABXH03gjqp
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Play soon resumed and on 37 minutes, Liverpool took the lead, Hugo Ekitike with his Premier League debut with a goal.
But for viewers watching via Virgin Media, all that was on their TV screen was huge glitching with sound cutting out. This stayed the way for much of the game. The glitching also happened on all the channels and not just the football.
There was a way to watch the game without issue, with tweets starting doing the rounds with viewers told to press ‘watch from the start’ and fast forward to just before where the game got up to.
Back to the match now and more on that Liverpool goal. Mac Allister found Ekitike in space and the new Reds striker made his way through Senesi and through on goal, rolled the ball past Petrovic.
HUGO EKITIKE!
On his Premier League debut! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/loxFsjiwcR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Sort it out @virginmedia the TV channels are shambolic tonight! Actually unwatchable!! pic.twitter.com/sm0Tvm1wgU
— James McKeown (@jamesmckeown67) August 15, 2025
After that, Ekitike very nearly made it 2-0, Gakpo down the left, tried to find Ekitike at the back post, the Liverpool goalscorer rose highest but couldn’t get the header on target.
49 minutes in and Cody Gakpo doubled the hosts’ lead while it was also a goal and an assist for Hugo Ekitike, holding the ball up inside the box, fed it to Gakpo, who made his way to the edge of the area, thought about shooting, but then went into more space and slotted into the bottom corner.
Bournemouth incredibly fought back however, on 64 minutes, Antoine Semenyo put the Cherries back in it, David Brooks on the left and he put a brilliant ball behind the defence for Antoine Semenyo, who found the net, even with Alisson getting a hand to it.
Then with around 15 minutes remaining, Antoine Semenyo scored again, this one an individual goal as the Liverpool attack broke down, he broke from inside his own area, straight down middle and puts the ball into the bottom corner, to leave Alisson rooted to the spot.
Then in the 88th minute, an unbelievable finish from Federico Chiesa to make it 3-2 Liverpool, who had just come on. The second touch in his second season at the Reds and his first goal in the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah’s ball into the box was pushed away by Djordje Petrovic, but Chiesa reacted well to an awkward bounce of the ball to drive it in.
There was still time for Salah to get on the scoresheet, the 93rd minute, he chased a ball over the defence, took the ball into the box, cut inside and into the bottom corner to make it 4-2.
Cody Gakpo goes on his own to make it two for Liverpool! 👊 pic.twitter.com/NKrLFo4JU7
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Antoine Semenyo pulls one back for Bournemouth 🍒
Game ON! pic.twitter.com/2C1jwPnlzf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
WOW!
Antoine Semenyo with an incredible solo goal to equalise for Bournemouth at Anfield 😍⚡️ pic.twitter.com/y0UxlX6ovP
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
“An explosion of red relief!”
Federico Chiesa finds the back of the net! 👏 pic.twitter.com/AyWE9DvvPo
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike to Sky Sports:
“It was a good performance. I could do better. But the most important thing tonight is the win and the mentality we showed.
“We wanted to win for the people who came tonight and for Diogo. That’s what we did. I’m happy for everybody.
“I have so many things to do better. I helped the team, I can do a lot of things. I can do better and go even more for this team.
“Growing up – two players [were my idol]. Neymar and Karim Benzema. I love Benzema, what he did for football is my role model.
“I also changed my way to play here, it’s different football wiht more intensity. The defenders are stronger and there are tight spaces here. I had so much more space in Germany. That’s why I try to come, go and run behind.
“We have to find the way to succeed with the details. It’s not good anymore. We just have to get better.”
