Manager Arne Slot immediately integrated his summer signings, handing Premier League debuts to Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Milos Kerkez against the latter’s former club.
Of the new arrivals, French forward Ekitike was the standout. He delivered a dynamic performance as both a scorer and creator, earning a deserved standing ovation upon his substitution in the 71st minute. In contrast, Wirtz struggled to make an impact in the number 10 role, symptomatic of a disjointed Liverpool performance that lacked the calm and cohesion of their title-winning campaign last season.
The team’s defensive frailties, first seen in the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace, were once again apparent. After dominating the first hour, Liverpool nearly squandered their lead as a resurgent Bournemouth frequently exploited their defence, particularly on the flanks and through a midfield missing the suspended Ryan Gravenberch.
However, the champions rallied late in front of the Kop to secure all three points. Federico Chiesa scored the crucial go-ahead goal before Mohamed Salah sealed the victory. While the result was celebrated at Anfield, the unconvincing performance was a scare for the champions, demonstrating that Slot has considerable work to do to integrate his new players and restore the team’s fluency.
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