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Liverpool's win over Bournemouth overshadowed by Antoine Semenyo abuse as Premier League speak out
Liverpool started their Premier League title defence with an opening game win over Bournemouth at Anfield, but the match was overshadowed by alleged racist abuse aimed at Antoine Semenyo
Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2 at Anfield to start their Premier League title defence with a win, but the game was marred by alleged racist abuse aimed at Antoine Semenyo.
Despite the three points, it was far from a commanding performance from Arne Slot's side, as their defensive vulnerability showed again as they threw away a two goal lead before leaving it late to win the game through Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah's late strikes.
The Reds returned to competitive action at home for the first time since the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain last year. With Jota’s wife and family in attendance, an emotional tribute was paid to both brothers before kick-off.
Roared on by emotion and the occasion, Liverpool started on the front foot with Mohamed Salah forcing Djordje Petrovic into a testing save just minutes in.
However, a night to remember Jota and celebrate the return of the champions was completely ruined after referee Anthony Taylor stopped the game midway through the first-half after Semenyo had reported he was racially abused from the stand.
Addressing the incident, the Premier League Match Centre account on X said: “Tonight's match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth was temporarily paused during the first half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo. This is in line with the Premier League's on-field anti-discrimination protocol.
“The incident at Anfield will now be fully investigated. We offer our full support to the player and both clubs. Racism has no place in our game, or anywhere in society.
“We will continue to work with stakeholders and authorities to ensure our stadiums are an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”
After play resumed, Liverpool took the lead through Hugo Ekitike, who followed up his goal in the Community Shield with a more fortunate effort. But there was nothing lucky about the Reds’ second however, as Cody Gakpo cut inside before finding the far bottom corner to double the hosts’ advantage on 49 minutes.
As Liverpool looked to be heading to a routine night, Semenyo stabbed home an equaliser shortly after the hour mark to round off a swift counter-attack, which left more questions to be asked of Virgil van Dijk again after his Wembley shocker, sparking the Cherries into life.
And spurred on from their first, a second followed just 12 minutes later as Semenyo showed he had brilliantly put his first-half nightmare behind him to turn the game as he slammed home a powerful finish to level the score.
The Ghana international picked the ball up at the halfway line and ran at the Liverpool defensive partnership of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, seeing neither player want to commit as Semenyo closed in on Alisson’s goal before leaving the Brazilian with no chance with his finish.
Konate’s complete avoidance to confront Semenyo saw Jamie Carragher slam his performance as “absolutely shocking”. While Van Dijk endured another poor night.
But the night was rescued by the forgotten man Federico Chiesa as the forward who seemed destined to leave Anfield this summer popped up with two minutes to go as he volleyed through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner. Salah then sealed the three points in added time.
Arne Slot named all four of his marquee signings so far in the window in the starting line-up, to varying success, to say the least.
While Ekitike grabbed the opening goal and showed both his physical and technical attributes to help him feel at home in English football, the evening was not one to remember for the other three.
Both Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez were substituted before the hour mark after being second best against their respective wingers, Semenyo in particular bullying Kerkez for the majority of the game.
While Florian Wirtz was unable to have any meaningful impact on the game before he was taken off after a bruising first 80 minutes in the Premier League.
Liverpool have ten days before their next outing when they travel to take on Newcastle at St James’ Park, possibly with current Magpies striker Alexander Isak leading their line.
Daily Star Sunday
Liverpool started their Premier League title defence with an opening game win over Bournemouth at Anfield, but the match was overshadowed by alleged racist abuse aimed at Antoine Semenyo
Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2 at Anfield to start their Premier League title defence with a win, but the game was marred by alleged racist abuse aimed at Antoine Semenyo.
Despite the three points, it was far from a commanding performance from Arne Slot's side, as their defensive vulnerability showed again as they threw away a two goal lead before leaving it late to win the game through Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah's late strikes.
The Reds returned to competitive action at home for the first time since the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain last year. With Jota’s wife and family in attendance, an emotional tribute was paid to both brothers before kick-off.
Roared on by emotion and the occasion, Liverpool started on the front foot with Mohamed Salah forcing Djordje Petrovic into a testing save just minutes in.
However, a night to remember Jota and celebrate the return of the champions was completely ruined after referee Anthony Taylor stopped the game midway through the first-half after Semenyo had reported he was racially abused from the stand.
Addressing the incident, the Premier League Match Centre account on X said: “Tonight's match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth was temporarily paused during the first half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo. This is in line with the Premier League's on-field anti-discrimination protocol.
“The incident at Anfield will now be fully investigated. We offer our full support to the player and both clubs. Racism has no place in our game, or anywhere in society.
“We will continue to work with stakeholders and authorities to ensure our stadiums are an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”
After play resumed, Liverpool took the lead through Hugo Ekitike, who followed up his goal in the Community Shield with a more fortunate effort. But there was nothing lucky about the Reds’ second however, as Cody Gakpo cut inside before finding the far bottom corner to double the hosts’ advantage on 49 minutes.
As Liverpool looked to be heading to a routine night, Semenyo stabbed home an equaliser shortly after the hour mark to round off a swift counter-attack, which left more questions to be asked of Virgil van Dijk again after his Wembley shocker, sparking the Cherries into life.
And spurred on from their first, a second followed just 12 minutes later as Semenyo showed he had brilliantly put his first-half nightmare behind him to turn the game as he slammed home a powerful finish to level the score.
The Ghana international picked the ball up at the halfway line and ran at the Liverpool defensive partnership of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, seeing neither player want to commit as Semenyo closed in on Alisson’s goal before leaving the Brazilian with no chance with his finish.
Konate’s complete avoidance to confront Semenyo saw Jamie Carragher slam his performance as “absolutely shocking”. While Van Dijk endured another poor night.
But the night was rescued by the forgotten man Federico Chiesa as the forward who seemed destined to leave Anfield this summer popped up with two minutes to go as he volleyed through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner. Salah then sealed the three points in added time.
Arne Slot named all four of his marquee signings so far in the window in the starting line-up, to varying success, to say the least.
While Ekitike grabbed the opening goal and showed both his physical and technical attributes to help him feel at home in English football, the evening was not one to remember for the other three.
Both Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez were substituted before the hour mark after being second best against their respective wingers, Semenyo in particular bullying Kerkez for the majority of the game.
While Florian Wirtz was unable to have any meaningful impact on the game before he was taken off after a bruising first 80 minutes in the Premier League.
Liverpool have ten days before their next outing when they travel to take on Newcastle at St James’ Park, possibly with current Magpies striker Alexander Isak leading their line.
Daily Star Sunday