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Daily Mirror
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Federico Chiesa cements Liverpool cult hero status with moment to remember
It looked like he was heading for the Anfield exit door, but Federico Chiesa was on hand to seal all three points for Liverpool against Bournemouth in their Premier League opener For all the money Liverpool have spent this summer it was the only signing from last year who rescued them here. Federico Chiesa was left at home for their pre-season tour and the fan favourite looked to be heading for the Anfield exit door. Yet the £10m recruit from Juventus 12 months ago enamoured himself even more to the home faithful last night as he came off the bench to fire Liverpool back in front. Cult hero status forever confirmed. Mo Salah got a fourth but it was Chiesa's strike which won this game for Liverpool against a brave Bournemouth after Arne Slot 's men had blown a two-goal lead. If this is one of his final acts in a red shirt they might need to send him a winners' medal if Liverpool lift this trophy again in May. With two minutes to go it looked like the defending champions were going to drop points on the first weekend of the new campaign. Anfield debut boy Hugo Ekitike had scored one and helped Cody Gakpo get the second as Liverpool looked to be in cruise control. But then a double from the brilliant Antoine Semenyo - who had earlier reported racist abuse from the crowd - brought Bournemouth level on a dramatic night. Then Salah's cross somehow dropped down to the Italian and he pulled off an inventive and superb finish to find the corner. More than £300m spent this summer and counting yet here was the bargain buy from last year against all the odds turning Anfield wild. Blockbuster TV but a night tinged with great sadness, too. Season openers don't get more crazy than this. Salah would get in on the act to ensure there wouldn't be another way back for Andoni Iraola's side with a low finish from the edge of the area. He just about squeezed in his usual opening weekend goal. He stood in front of the Kop after the final whistle and it was something extraordinary. The fans sang Diogo Jota's name and Salah couldn't stop the tears flowing. The football before had stirred a different type of emotion. If Liverpool are going to play like this every week it will be a rollercoaster ride of a season. Brilliant up front, erratic at the back. But it was also a night to remember their friend and team-mate. A minute's silence was impeccably observed before kick-off with mosaics around the ground for Jota and his brother, Andre Silva. Jota's family were in the crowd for the tribute, a banner on the Kop reminded them that they will always be thought of in these parts. The game began and football helped us forget. How Cherries defender Marcos Senesi wasn't punished for denying him going clear with a blatant handball is anyone's guess. When Semenyo reported racist abuse from a fan in the crowd soon after we were barely 30 minutes into the season. Sad and troubling. It will be investigated after the game was briefly halted. Ekitike would open the scoring eight minutes before the break as he slotted home after bundling through the Bournemouth backline. Gakpo doubled the hosts' lead soon after the restart with his now almost trademark move of coming in off the left before finding the bottom corner. Ekitike had the assist - who needs Alexander Isak? Bournemouth were not done, though. Not when they have Semenyo. The Cherries will be glad nobody has come for him this summer. What a player. The first for them was a breakaway with David Brooks marauding down the left before a fizzed cross was met by Semenyo coasting into the middle in the 64th minute. Then, from the edge of his own box, Semenyo took the ball away and the blue and black shirts of Bournemouth flooded forward as Liverpool tried to scamper back with 14 minutes to go. Semenyo had options but he remained unchallenged so when he entered Liverpool's area he just slotted home himself. It only set up the real drama to come. Oh how Jota would have loved this game. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Bournemouth captain ‘shocked' and ‘angry' after Antoine Semenyo reports racist abuse in Liverpool match at Anfield
Bournemouth captain Adam Smith said he was 'shocked' and 'angry' after teammate Antoine Semenyo reported receiving racist abuse from a spectator at Anfield on Friday night. Liverpool won the Premier League season's opening game 4-2 after goals from Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah, on a night full of tributes for Diogo Jota after his tragic death in July. But the match was marred by the incident involving Semenyo, who immediately reported what he had heard to match officials. The referee, Anthony Taylor, halted play, calling Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola together with the fourth official Farai Hallam to tell them that Semenyo had reported a racist comment from a fan at the front of the Main Stand. Police escorted an individual out of the stadium, and also visited the officials' dressing room at half-time. The club are also investigating. Semenyo not only continued the game but scored two goals to haul Bournemouth level in the second half, before Chiesa and Salah scored late on to earn the champions all three points. 'It is totally unacceptable,' said Smith, speaking to Sky Sports about the incident. 'I'm kind of in shock it happened in this day and age. I don't know how Ant has carried on playing and come up with his goals. He's a little bit down. Something needs to be done. Taking a knee has taken no effect.' Smith praised Semenyo's calm handling of the situation. 'I wanted him to react [after scoring], that's what I'd have done, I'd have gone straight over there. It shows what kind of man he is to report it to the ref and carry on. Fair play to Ant. I said to the ref I wanted him removed immediately but the police went and sorted it. The Liverpool players were very supportive to Ant and the rest of the team. 'I'm just so angry. We've had discussions with the Premier League about it so they have been taking it seriously. I don't know what else we can do. We've been doing it for a long time now and no one is getting it. I just feel sorry for Ant and he's had to take that. The whole country is watching and it's shocking.' Iraola said: 'The referee explained to both managers straight away the situation. It is a big shame we have to start talking about these things. The Liverpool manager and the players, they feel it the same. Everyone understands that these things have to be out of everywhere but especially football. 'Now we have to go again to talk to the police and the officials. I think for sure he [Semenyo ] will have it in his head [now] and it shouldn't be like this.' Slot added: 'It is obvious we do not want this in football. We definitely don't want this at Anfield. Unfortunately it is part of the story because we should talk about the great tribute for Diogo Jota. This should never happen in football, let alone Anfield.'
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Liverpool match vs Bournemouth halted after allegation of racist abuse
Play was halted during the Liverpool versus AFC Bournemouth match at Anfield after Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused by a supporter. Match referee Anthony Taylor stopped the game in the 29th minute, consulting with managers and captains, with police officers later entering the referee's room at half-time. The Premier League confirmed it would launch a full investigation into the incident, stating the temporary pause was in line with its on-field anti-discrimination protocol. Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville expressed dismay, highlighting the incident as overshadowing the match and a 'sorry state' of affairs. Despite the incident, Semenyo scored two goals for Bournemouth, though Liverpool ultimately secured a 4-2 victory.
