Liverpool FC vs AFC Bournemouth: 5 records broken in the Premier League 2025/26 season opener

Defending champions Liverpool started their title defense on a happy note with a comfortable 4-2 win against AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday. Although they were pushed very hard by the visitors, the Reds scored late goals to secure the first win of the Premier League 2025/26.

Liverpool FC vs AFC Bournemouth: As it happened in the match

The match started with a resounding tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre, who lost their lives in a tragic accident. The first 30 minutes were equally contested, with Bournemouth winning the battles in the defensive half and Liverpool looking to use their strength in the final third.

However, the Reds had to wait for the 37th minute to get the first goal when Hugo Ekitike, their new signing, scored from close range.

Cody Gakpo then doubled the lead for them with an early second-half goal, which showcased how tired the Bournemouth defense was getting. 

However, the visitors made a tremendous comeback with Antoine Semenyo scoring a brace for them to make everything equal.

But it was the bench strength of Liverpool that prevailed. Federico Chiesa scored after coming as a substitute. The 88th-minute strike from a volley gave Liverpool the lead, and in the added time, Mohamed Salah scored his 10th opening match goal for Liverpool, the most by any Reds player, to ensure an easy 4-2 win.

5 records that were made during the match

• With his first Premier League goal, Federico Chiesa scored Liverpool’s latest ever matchday 1 winning goal in the competition (87:46). It is also the latest by any side in their opener in the English top-flight since Diego Costa for Chelsea v West Ham in 2016-17 (88:43).

• Mohamed Salah is both the top scorer (10) and has the most combined goals and assists (15) of any player on matchday 1 in Premier League history.

• Mohamed Salah won has equalled Andy Cole's record for fourth most Premier League goals in history (187 goals).

• Antoine Semenyo is the first visiting player to score a brace at Anfield in the Premier League since September 2022 (Leandro Trossard's hat-trick for Brighton).

• Hugo Ekitike is only the second player to both score and assist a goal on his Premier League debut for Liverpool, after Darwin Núñez against Fulham in August 2022.