Liverpool have started their Premier League title defence with a victory. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Liverpool have started their Premier League title defence with a victory, defeating Bournemouth 4-2 on an emotional evening at Anfield.
Many pundits and fans alike have predicted Arne Slot’s side to retain their crown come May, although they will need to up their performance if they are to do so. Liverpool raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo netting either side of half time, but Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo put them to the sword with a brilliant brace. Fortunately for the Merseyside club, they were bailed out by a late strike from substitute Federico Chiesa and a stoppage time sealer from Mohamed Salah.
Slot will not be happy with the display produced by his side, especially in defence – they were far too easy to get the better of on the counter-attack, and that was amplified by Semenyo’s goals.
Liverpool player ratings against Bournemouth
Alisson – Liverpool’s goalkeeper could do little about Semenyo’s brace, and he will not be happy about how he was not protected by his defenders. 6/10.
Jeremie Frimpong – His first match back in English football, and it was average. He is good going forward, but he was caught out of a natural right-back position on many occasions, and that spelled trouble. 5/10.
Ibrahima Konate – He played like a man that is thinking about life away from Liverpool. Not good enough in defence. 5/10.
Virgil van Dijk – At times it felt like van Dijk was a one-man defence, which he would not have been pleased about. 6/10.
Milos Kerkez – Similar to Frimpong, he was often caught out when Bournemouth broke quickly. 5/10.
Milos Kerkez was not at his best during his Premier League debut for Liverpool. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Alexis Mac Allister – Provided the assist for Ekitike’s goal, but generally, he was not at his best. 6/10.
Dominik Szoboszlai – Played in a deeper role in order to accommodate Florian Wirtz, but he struggled to reach his potential too. 6/10.
Florian Wirtz – Rude awakening to English football for Wirtz, who was largely ineffective on his…
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