Liverpool defeated Bournemouth of their first match of the 2025/26 season of the Premier League in a six-goal thriller as they received 4-2 at Anfield with a late comeback.
After going 2-0 down earlier than the hour mark, the Cherries hit again with a brace from Antoine Semenyo, though Federico Chiesa’s first ever Premier League aim and a stoppage time strike from Mohamed Salah averted a winless end result for Arne Slot.
Chiesa, who got here off the bench, was the match-winner for Liverpool with a close-range volley off a free aerial ball within the space. Not solely did his aim ship Anfield berserk however resurfaced talks of his Anfield exit, to which Arne Slot responded by saying,
“So long as he’s right here he’s undoubtedly at Liverpool and I’ve no cause to consider one thing goes to alter. He’s had a tough time final season, getting his match health prepared. Sadly for him, he missed out on our Asia tour as properly, so then you definitely miss rather a lot.”
Slot now unlikely to let Chiesa depart
Federico Chiesa’s £13 million switch from Juventus failed to return good final 12 months though there’s little to disclaim about his qualities, which he has persistently displayed at membership and nationwide stage within the latest previous.
A superb begin to life within the 2025/26 season may lend him a brand new lease of life at Anfield with Arne Slot insisting that Liverpool don’t have sufficient offensive depth. In such a situation, the Italian’s versatility within the ultimate third will probably be helpful.
Whereas his efficiency towards Bournemouth didn’t deliver a lot aside from the all-important match-winning aim, it was an effective way to start out his second and probably decisive season for the membership, not least in entrance of the Anfield devoted on an emotional night time.
It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how Chiesa is utilised by Slot additional into the season, although it’s honest to imagine that with an impactful cameo off the bench, the ahead has very presumably earned himself one other 12 months on Merseyside.
