Liverpool 4-2 AFC Bournemouth

This is the first Match Report I have ever written so please forgive me as I learn along the way.

Diogo Jota and Andre Silva Tributes

One thing for sure is this match was special. It was all about honouring Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as You'll Never Walk Alone rang out with players arm in arm on the centre circle before the match.

Flags, banners, scarves and football shirts paying tribute to Diogo and Andre were adorned throughout the stadium. A mosaic tribute to Diogo and Andre was displayed during a sombre minute's silence prior to kick off.

Black armbands were worn by players, staff and officials to pay their respects to Diogo and Andre.

FIRST HALF

The game got off to a lively start that continued throughout. We started well and created a few half chances in the first 5 minutes or so. Then Bournemouth gained some control and created some half chances of their own.

There were signs of defensive nerves in our back four early on, highlighted just before 8 minutes when Konate put the ball out for a corner when it should have been a simple pass back to Alisson. Bournemouth were getting some joy down both flanks but especially down the right where Semenyo was clearly going to cause us problems tonight.

Water bottles

Now was this just me or were the water bottles being so close to the touchline making anyone else feel uneasy? ha ha I was relieved when Florian Wirtz moved some to take a corner on around 10 minutes!

Senesi hand ball

On around 12 minutes this was a "clear and obvious" handball by Bournemouth's number 5 Senesi with an outstretched hand that prevented Ekitike with a clear run on goal. VAR didn't think so and came up with a pitiful reason and then had the audacity to change their reason later on which still didn't add up! I'm not even going to explain their reasons as they are not worth my time.

It was a clear and intentional handball that should have been a red card.

Slot blazer

Arne Slot was clearly unhappy with the handball decision but one thing I was beginning to think was how smart his light grey blazer was ha ha this will be a matter of opinion of course but I do think it is a smart blazer and I prefer it to his darker coloured blazers he has previously worn.

20 minutes Jota tribute

On 20 minutes there was a stadium wide 'round of applause in tribute to our forever number 20 Diogo Jota, with his song being sang out loud...

Oh he wears the number 20
He will take us to victory
And when he's running down the left wing
He'll cut inside and score for LFC
He's a lad from Portugal
Better than Figo don't you know
Oh, his name is DIOGO!

As the game got deeper into the first half Bournemouth were showing their quality and were a real threat. We knew we had a game on our hands.

Alleged racist abuse

Unfortunately on around 28 minutes it became clear that something was reported to the referee as the game was delayed. We now know this was a report by Semenyo of alleged racist abuse from someone in the crowd.

This was so sad to see.

Liverpool FC have released a statement condemning racism and discrimination in all forms and they are supporting the police with their investigation.

Semenyo received support on the pitch from both sets of players as the game continued.

After the delay Bournemouth again took control and had a clear chance on 34 minutes to go one nil up, Kerkez being nutmegged for the second time in the game to set up Tavernier, but his shot was weak and easily saved by Alisson.

Liverpool 1-0 AFC Bournemouth

A moment of class from HUGO EKITIKE as he links up with Mac Allister to side foot home after a well earned ricochet off Senesi!!! Get in there!!! We needed that big time. Ekitike celebrates with a number 20 tribute to Diogo Jota.

On around 41 minutes Semenyo gets passed Kerkez with ease again and around a minute later Kerkez flies into a challenge with Adam Smith and gets a yellow card. He is not having his best game. He is looking like a fiery character which I am sure we will come to enjoy when it has it's benefits.

We give away a couple of poor free kicks in dangerous positions towards the end of the first half but luckily they come to nothing. The ball boy buys us a few yards at the end of the first half when he rolls the ball to the correct position away from the direction Semenyo is walking in to take a long throw. Well done lad!

THE SECOND HALF

I rush back from the toilet and what a touch from Ekitike on 46 minutes in the build up to a corner! Wow I love this guy!

Liverpool 2-0 AFC Bournemouth

On 47 minutes it's Gakpo with a great hold off, turn, dribble and run down the left. It leads to a sublime exchange with Ekitike and a clinical finish from the inside centre of the box! Get in!!! Gakpo celebrates with a number 20 tribute to Diogo Jota.

On 50 minutes who's this? It's Mo Salah with a lovely cross on the outside of the left boot! We have so much quality I almost forgot about him! A minute later Mac Allister has a screamer tipped over by the goalkeeper.

Arne Slot must have given a stern half-time team talk because we look sharper with more urgency to turn the ball over.

David Brooks is keeping Frimpong on his toes down the left, apart from when he give him a piggyback in the first half. It's been a busy night for our full backs.

Oh my! What a "flick block" from the big Virgil Van Dijk on 58 minutes! I love it when he does that and he makes it look so easy.

Substitutions

59 minutes
Frimpong and Kirkez off
Endo and Robertson on

I don't understand the Endo one with Gomez on the bench. It looks like Endo has gone to right back. I don't feel good about this.

Semenyo is looking dangerous. We are struggling to deal with him. He is definitely their biggest threat.

On 62 minutes Szoboszlai runs over 20 yards in probably 0.01 seconds to win the ball and almost set up Wirtz via Salah.

Liverpool 2-1 AFC Bournemouth

A Szoboszlai flick doesn't come off and a long ball to Brooks on the left cuts our defence open. A pacey cross from Brooks and there is Semenyo charging into the box past Robertson and Van Dijk to score. He deserves it but we haven't been the same since Endo went to right back and it's worrying me.

We try to respond quickly but it comes to nothing.

There's some lovely one touch play from Bournemouth on around 70 minutes but luckily it comes to nothing. We are looking vulnerable.

Substitutions

71 minutes
Ekitike and Mac Allister off
Gomez and Jones on

Have we shut up shop? At least Slot has recognised the problem at right back. Gomez goes there and Endo into midfield. Phew.

Liverpool 2-2 AFC Bournemouth

You could feel it coming and it is deserved on 76 minutes. We are extremely high with 8 players inside their box. Semenyo is released in his own half and runs it unchallenged to our 18 yard box and scores clinically with his left foot to the bottom right corner. One thing I hate is when players back off and off. You are asking for trouble. We know how dangerous Semenyo is and I think Konate could have brought him down and took a yellow card. He might have even got the ball and got away with it.

Our response is promising. Szoboszlai goes close inside the box. He is all over the pitch and gets brought down by Evanilson who is booked.

Substitution

81 minutes
Wirtz off
Chiesa on

The commentators don't understand it but Slot has proven us wrong with his substitutions many times last season, so let's see.

This game could go either way but Bournemouth have started time wasting which indicates a shift in mentality. We have gained more control.

Liverpool 3-2 AFC Bournemouth

On 88 minutes Anfield erupts!!! It's that man with a twinkle in his eye! He's been full of energy since coming on and he's done it!!! FEDERICO CHIESA!!! Alisson with a lovely long ball from almost the halfway line and a beautiful flick from Szoboszlai sets up Salah for a cross which is saved but the ball falls to the Italian stallion and what a finish!!! He is our SUPER SUB!!! Get in there!!! His first Premier League goal! There's ecstatic scenes by the corner flag!!!

The atmosphere is unbelievable. You can't hear anything but the Federico Chiesa song roaring around Anfield!

You can hear them crying in Turin
Federico, he's here to win
One chat with Arne Slot, and he said "Ciao"
"Fuck off Juve, I'm a Kopite now"
NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

There is a really special feeling around this ground.

Liverpool 4-2 AFC Bournemouth

Endo clears the ball high and long. Salah chases it down the left wing at the speed of light. He gets there first and cuts inside onto his right foot and scores into the bottom right corner!!! There's unbelievable scenes!!!

Salah celebrates with the Diogo Jota hand clap celebration 🫶

FULL TIME
LIVERPOOL 4-2 AFC BOURNEMOUTH

The full time whistle goes and the Diogo Jota song rings out loud around Anfield.

There are tears and jubilation. These players are grieving for their friend.

This was a truly special game that we will always remember.