![\"Ian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Ian-Doyle.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIan Doyle with the main talking points as Liverpool win their opening Premier League game against Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday evening<\/p>\n
Ian Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 20 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. He previously also covered Everton for 18 years and followed England, reporting on the European Championships and World Cup final. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.<\/p>\n
![\"LIVERPOOL,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2230330579.jpg\")
Federico Chiesa races away in celebration after putting Liverpool in front against Bournemouth(Image: Liverpool FC\/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The last time Bournemouth were at Anfield 11 months ago, Federico Chiesa was given his Liverpool debut with a late cameo. That the striker went on to play only another 86 minutes in the Reds\u2019 charge to the Premier League title highlights why the Italy international would reportedly welcome a return to his homeland.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it said much that when the again impressive Hugo Ekitike<\/a> was substituted 71 minutes into Bournemouth’s latest Anfield<\/a> visit, Arne Slot<\/a> instead opted to move attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz<\/a> into the number nine role rather than bring on Chiesa.<\/p>\n But after Liverpool<\/a> threw away a two-goal lead, it was towards the Italian that Slot turned to on 82 minutes.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Liverpool new heroes and Alexander Isak theory emerges after emotional message sent<\/a>READ MORE: Mohamed Salah left in tears after poignant Liverpool tributes to Diogo Jota<\/a><\/p>\n The decision was rewarded within six minutes, Chiesa<\/a> firing an improvised volley into the bottom corner after Bournemouth had failed to properly clear a ball into the six-yard box.<\/p>\n Earlier, Ekitike had built on his fine showing in the Community Shield with a well-taken opener and an assist for Cody Gakpo<\/a>\u2019s second. The Frenchman has hit the ground running at Liverpool.<\/p>\n Chiesa, by contrast, will hope his dramatic contribution can belatedly kickstart his Anfield career. With the Reds short of attacking numbers, he may well be needed more than ever.<\/p>\n New signings struggle<\/strong><\/p>\n Delayed transition may be a succinct way of describing Liverpool\u2019s summer. After all, never before has a reigning Premier League champion undergone such an immediate transformation.<\/p>\n The Reds here became the first such title winners to name four top-flight debutants in their starting line-up for the opening day, with \u00a3116million record signing Wirtz joined by Jeremie Frimpong<\/a>, Ekitike and former Bournemouth man Milos Kerkez<\/a>.<\/p>\n Liverpool may by definition the club to beat this season, but the team is very much an unknown in stark contrast to the continuity that helped them romp to the championship last season.<\/p>\n And, clearly, the adaptation will not be without its teething troubles.<\/p>\n Slot\u2019s call to replace both full-backs on the hour was a bold one, even if Kerkez, perhaps guilty of trying too hard against his former club, suffered a tough baptism.<\/p>\n Wirtz, meanwhile, saw his creativity stifled in the first half by some close attention from a typically abrasive Bournemouth, although he showed signs of becoming accustomed to the physicality of the Premier League after the interval.<\/p>\n But it was notable that as Liverpool chased a winning goal, every player on the pitch had been part of Slot\u2019s title-winning squad.<\/p>\n For the fresh intake watching from the bench, the dramatic finale was a demonstration of how their new team-mates have acquired a habit of digging deep when required.<\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n Get Sky Sports here<\/a><\/p>\n Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports<\/a> bundle for the 2025\/26 season, saving members \u00a3192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.<\/p>\n Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.<\/p>\n Leoni says hello<\/strong><\/p>\n Still they keep coming. As Liverpool supporters prepared to bring in the new Premier League season, another fresh face was spotted in the directors\u2019 box in the Main Stand.<\/p>\n A few hours before kick-off, the Reds confirmed their latest signing with 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni putting pen to paper on a six-year contract having arrived for an initial \u00a326million from Parma.<\/p>\n Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace may still be to follow. And Leoni will have watched Liverpool\u2019s central defence once again show signs of creaking.<\/p>\n Virgil van Dijk<\/a> wasn\u2019t quite at his imperious best and was slow to react for one goal, while Ibrahima Konate<\/a> overall failed to convince and made too many wrong choices.<\/p>\n Of course, it didn\u2019t help that, in defensive midfield, Ryan Gravenberch<\/a> was suspended and Alexis Mac Allister<\/a> is understandably not quite up to speed after his injury absence.<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755048431_935_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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