Did Salah and Chiesa Save Liverpool in a 4-2 Thriller Against Bournemouth?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Liverpool began their title defense with a thrilling victory.
- Salah and Chiesa scored crucial late goals.
- The match highlighted issues of racism in football.
- Newcomer Ekitike made a strong debut.
- Support for Semenyo was emphasized by teammates.
Liverpool, Aug 16 (NationPress) The Premier League champions began their title defense with a dramatic 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday, thanks to late goals from Mo Salah and substitute Federico Chiesa.
The match was especially poignant for the home side, following the recent passing of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota in July. New signing Hugo Ekitike made an impressive league debut, scoring in the 37th minute to put the Reds ahead. Just four minutes after halftime, Cody Gakpo doubled the lead.
However, Bournemouth stunned the Anfield crowd when Antoine Semenyo, who had faced racial abuse earlier in the match, scored twice in quick succession, leveling the score at 2-2.
Yet, in the 88th minute, Chiesa fired home after a rebound from Djordje Petrovic, and in the dying moments of the game, Salah sealed the victory with a brilliant strike, marking his 187th goal in the Premier League, tying him with Andy Cole for fourth place on the all-time scoring list.
The match was briefly halted as Semenyo reported the racist abuse, which Bournemouth captain Adam Smith condemned, emphasizing the need for change and support for affected players.