EXTRA CHIESA

LIVERPOOL struck twice in the final minutes through Federico Chiesa and Mo Salah to overcome a battling Bournemouth 4-2 in a thrilling start to the Premier League season on Friday.

Antoine Semenyo looked to have rescued a point for the Cherries by scoring twice, after he had reported an incident of racial abuse from a fan, to cancel out Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo’s strikes for the defending champions.

But on an emotive night as Anfield remembered Diogo Jota, Chiesa was the unlikely hero as the injury-hit Italian fired the home span back in front before Salah rounded off the scoring.

Liverpool’s joy at celebrating a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title turned to tragedy during the close season as forward Jota was killed alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car accident last month at the age of 28.

The game was briefly halted on the half-hour mark as Semenyo reported to referee Anthony Taylor that he had been the subject of racist abuse from a Liverpool supporter, who was seen to be removed from the stands by police at halftime.

Shortly after the resumption, Ekitike settled Liverpool’s nerves as he got the break of the ball and slotted past Dorde Petrovic.

Gakpo then coolly left two Bournemouth defenders on the ground and rolled into the bottom corner just after halftime.

But David Brooks broke the offside trap and squared for Semenyo to pull a goal back.

The Ghanaian then rounded off his eventful evening for good and bad with an incredible equaliser.

Semenyo collected possession just outside his own box and sprinted through a vacant Liverpool midfield before firing into the bottom corner 13 minutes from time.

Chiesa was barely used by Slot in his debut season in England, but became the unlikely hero when he pounced on a loose ball inside the Bournemouth box on 89 minutes.

Salah then broke clear in stoppage time to score his customary goal in the opening game of the season and paid his own homage to Jota by mimicking one of his goal celebrations.

Merseyside police, meanwhile, said a 47-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and has been taken into custody.