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Liverpool get the ball rolling.<\/strong> Bournemouth<\/a> are kicking towards the Kop in this first half. The Jota song is rattling Anfield\u2019s roof, all that emotion released.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A minute of silence \u201cin memory of Diogo Jota, our Forever 20, and his beloved brother Andr\u00e9 Silva.\u201d<\/strong> Perfectly observed. A mosaic of DJ20 in the Kop, another of AS30 in the Kenny Dalglish Stand, all in Portuguese colours. And then the whistle goes, and up with the song again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n With more tributes coming up at Anfield, Liverpool<\/a> look pensive in the tunnel.<\/strong> Mohamed Salah on his haunches, staring at the wall, lost in thought. Then both teams emerge from the tunnel as all four corners of the stadium resonate to that song about their lad from Portugal. Every single person doing the man proud. Then the playing of You\u2019ll Never Walk Alone, traditional but never more on point. Many glassy eyes in the stadium. Salah holds his hands over his nose and mouth, trying hard not to break down. Dominik Szoboslai throws an arm over his shoulder and taps it gently. It\u2019s hard to watch. So sweet as well. He\u2019ll never walk alone.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports began their broadcast tonight with this tribute to Diogo Jota.<\/strong> It\u2019s heartbreaking but heartwarming in equal measure. \u201cA champion for his family, a champion for his country, and a champion for winning the Premier League<\/a>,\u201d concludes Arne Slot, simply but rather beautifully. The Liverpool manager, responding to the terrible news last month, said: \u201cI wish I had the words but I know I do not.\u201d Well, he found them, didn\u2019t he?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pre-match postbag.<\/strong> \u201cThey\u2019ll sing in the stadium, in pubs, in living rooms. #His name is Diogo# Present tense. Is. In the collective memory of the football world. I can\u2019t imagine what it\u2019ll be like for his wife and children in the stadium. I hope they feel the love that the club and the fans had for him\u201d \u2013 Matt Dony<\/p>\n \u201cRest in Peace to Jota, his brother, and peace to their surviving family. This may be shallow thinking but with all the shite going on worldwide, these PL MBMs bring a temporary respite for many of us\u201d \u2013 Mary Waltz<\/p>\n \u201cEkitike is already fourth on the all-time (meaning since 1992) Palindromic Surname Assist Providers list, behind Crystal Palace\u2019s Eze (20-something), his former club-mate Ojo (one), and someone I have forgotten. Kabak is joint fourth but Ekitike is way out front among Palindromes Who Can Be Sung Along To ABBA\u2019s Chiquitita\u201d \u2013 Paul Griffin<\/p>\n Three differing examples of exactly why Mary writes such kind words.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More from Iraola, this time on the \u00a357m exit of centre-back Illia Zabarnyi \u2026<\/strong> \u201cIt is difficult when someone like PSG, winning the Champions League, comes for one of your players \u2026 I knew it was going to happen \u2026 I am very happy for him but it will be a big miss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026 and his replacement Bafode Diakite, a \u00a334m capture from Lille just a couple of days ago \u2026<\/strong> \u201cHe is a great defender \u2026 it is probably risky to start him away here! \u2026 but he has experience in the Champions League \u2026 he will know the atmosphere \u2026 it will be a big test for him because he doesn\u2019t have connections, the things you need with a team-mate \u2026 but we trust the player and hope he performs well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026 then finally a word on Bournemouth\u2019s Milos Kerkez replacement at left-back, Adrien Truffert.<\/strong> \u201cThe transition has been quite smooth \u2026 he has adapted really well \u2026 today it will be a difficult job against Mo Salah \u2026 I hope he does well!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s Andoni Iraola\u2019s turn to chat with Sky, and he\u2019s first asked about the upheaval in the Bournemouth<\/a> defence, with three members of last season\u2019s back line, plus the keeper, out the door.<\/strong> \u201cIt is a difficult moment \u2026 a lot of uncertainty \u2026 we cannot look at the negative side, and say we do not have these players \u2026 we have new players \u2026 even more players \u2026 and we have to build something again \u2026 a new start \u2026 exciting \u2026 this game will give us some more information \u2026 pre-season is always difficult \u2026 later we will know more about our team \u2026 we face the champions at Anfield \u2026 for the players we cannot ask much more than a start here!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n These two clubs are on the verge of doing some business with each other \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2026 but that\u2019s not the only news of Liverpool<\/a> in the market today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Season previews.<\/strong> Time for one last look before the first ball is kicked in anger.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Slot continues:<\/strong> \u201cWe have lost many players and brought in many \u2026 even yesterday we brought in one who is not available yet<\/a> \u2026 we have lost a few very good players \u2026 the ones we brought in are special as well \u2026 in general [in pre-season] we don\u2019t concede more chances, but the ones we do concede have led to goals.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.26 EDT<\/p>\n Arne Slot speaks to Sky Sports, and first addresses the impact on his squad of this tragic summer.<\/strong> \u201cThe players are far better than I expected five or six weeks ago \u2026 in that moment in time, you feel will it ever be possible to play again? \u2026 but they have conducted themselves so, so, so well \u2026 on both sides they were great, as a human being, but they also understood they have to be professional football players again \u2026 so we had to work hard, and that\u2019s what we started doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Arne Slot chats to the Sky Sports massive ahead of kick-off. Photograph: Peter Powell\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.25 EDT<\/p>\n Liverpool name four Premier League<\/a> debutants this evening.<\/strong> Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez all start, as they did at Wembley against Crystal Palace last weekend in the Community Shield.<\/p>\n Bournemouth aren\u2019t far behind them in that regard.<\/strong> They\u2019ve got three new players in their line-up tonight: goalkeeper \u0110or\u0111e Petrovi\u0107, left-back Adrien Truffert and central defender Bafod\u00e9 Diakit\u00e9 all make their competitive debuts for the Cherries.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The teams<\/p>\n Liverpool:<\/strong> Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike. Bournemouth:<\/strong> Petrovic, Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert, Adams, Scott, Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo, Evanilson. Referee:<\/strong> Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.07 EDT<\/p>\n Diogo Jota is pictured on the cover of this evening\u2019s match programme.<\/strong> Arne Slot pays tribute to Liverpool\u2019s No20 and his brother Andr\u00e9 Silva in his notes, which confirm that Jota\u2019s wife Rute Cardoso, his children and family will be at Anfield this evening. There will be a moment of silence before kick-off, the players will wear black armbands, and Liverpool<\/a> will wear a Forever 20 emblem on their shirts and jackets.<\/p>\n We know that this will be a very emotional occasion, given it is the first league game we have played since we lost Diogo and Andr\u00e9. As I have said previously, the tributes that have been paid throughout the football world, and especially within the LFC community, have been truly special, and I know that tonight we will come together to honour them once more.<\/p>\n I believe that Diogo\u2019s wife, his children and his family will be in attendance and it is important that, as a club, we show that they will always have our love and support as they deal with this most tragic of situations. We are there for them always.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.45 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n Almost exactly one year ago \u2013 363 days, to be precise \u2013 Liverpool<\/a> found themselves struggling during their season opener at Portman Road.<\/strong> Newly promoted Ipswich Town had been the better team in the first half, and with nearly an hour on the clock, the score remained goalless. But then Trent Alexander-Arnold curled in from the right, finding his team-mate who …<\/p>\n … flashed a header wide from six yards, when it was surely easier to score. Ah well.<\/p>\n No matter, though!<\/strong> That team-mate, an indefatigable bundle of joyous energy, selfless commitment, Fowleresque skill, and straight-up fun, wasn\u2019t to be disheartened. He simply came at Ipswich again, 60 seconds later, entering the box to meet a Mohamed Salah pass by calmly and adroitly whipping a firm sidefoot into the corner. The first goal of the Arne Slot era, a crucial momentum-shifter, and the first step towards Premier League<\/a> glory. Diogo Jota took Liverpool to victory. Better than Figo, don\u2019t you know?<\/p>\n A year is a long time by any reasonable measure, but with another season opener upon us, all of that feels particularly distant now.<\/strong> Anfield, staging its first competitive fixture since the tragic passing of Diogo and his brother Andr\u00e9 Silva, will remember, grieve and celebrate those beautiful, beloved boys tonight with a special Kop mosaic in their honour. Then a game of football will take place. Kick-off will be at 8pm UK time, and Jota is forever Liverpool\u2019s number 20.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha.<\/p>\n
Subs: Dennis, Araujo, Soler, Junior Kroupi, Hill, Traore, Billing, Winterburn, Rees-Dottin.<\/p>\n\n