By Frank Ulom
ANFIELD (CONVERSEER) – Mohamed Salah has made history as the first player to score 10 goals on opening day in the Premier League, helping Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2 to kick start the 2025/2026 campaign.
It was an emotional start to the season at Anfield with both sides paying tribute to the late Diogo Jota.
The game may have been a classic game but it was overshadowed by a report of racist abuse against Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth.
The opening game didn’t dissapoint and just 10 minutes into play, Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi was remarkably fortunate to stay on the pitch as he clearly handled the ball as Hugo Ekitike attempted to run beyond him. However, VAR did not agree, and a free-kick was given to the Cherries instead, prompting a great deal of indignation from the Liverpool players, and understandably so.
At the half-hour mark, a delay occurred after Semenyo reported an alleged incident of racial abuse, and both managers were made aware of the situation.
Six minutes later, the Reds had the lead, as Ekitike burst beyond Senesi, via a bobbled challenge, and fired an effort low into the bottom corner.
Three minutes after the restart, Liverpool had a second; Ekitike fed Cody Gakpo, who dropped a shoulder, beat two Bournemouth defenders, and found the bottom corner in truly superb fashion.
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On the hour, Florian Wirtz almost capped his classy debut with a goal but his effort from the edge of the box dribbled past the post. Within 60 seconds of that chance, Dominik Szoboszlai lost the ball in midfield and Bournemouth broke, with Semenyo finishing from close range.
The Cherries completed an incredible comeback in the 75th minute as Semenyo completed his brace gloriously, finishing a 60-yard dash from his own half with a brilliant low drive. Ibrahima Konate has plenty of questions to answer, as he roundly failed to get near his man before his shot found the net.
Nevertheless, Liverpool would not be denied, and Federico Chiesa, on as a substitute, restored their lead in the 88th minute thanks to a brilliant, instinctive volley after a failed Bournemouth clearance.
The fun was never going to be complete without Salah as the record breaker finished by decisively scoring his 10th goal in 8 out of 9 opening games of the season for Liverpool in the Premier League.
It was emotional as tears dropped from the forward’s eye, hearing fans sing for the late Jota.
The Egyptian King (fondly called) has almost moved above Andy Cole to fourth as the highest Premier League goalscorer of all time – only behind Alan Shearer (260), Harry Kane (213), and Wayne Rooney (203).
