Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah and fellow forward Federico Chiesa struck late goals as the Premier League champions began the defence of their title by beating Bournemouth 4-2 in a thriller on the opening night of the season at Anfield on Friday.
On a bittersweet evening charged with emotion after the July death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, newcomer Hugo Ekitike bagged a goal on his debut to put the hosts ahead after 37 minutes and Cody Gakpo doubled the lead in the 49th.
But Antoine Semenyo, who was the target of racist abuse in the first half that led to a pause in the game, pulled one back for the visitors in the 64th minute and completed a double 12 minutes later to rock Liverpool and shock the home fans.
However, substitute Chiesa sent the Liverpool faithful away happy with an 88th-minute strike after goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic swatted away a ball into the box by Salah, who scored himself deep into added time to wrap up the three points.
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Liverpool vs Bournemouth live
- Liverpool host Bournemouth Premier League opener, live on Sky Sports
- Arne Slot names four Premier League debutants while Andoni Iraola picks three
- Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
- Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Evanilso
- No red card: VAR decides not to intervene on Senesi handball (15 min)
- GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth (Ekitike, 37 min)
- Match paused after Antoine Semenyo reports incident of racist abuse
- GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth (Gakpo, 49 min)
- GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth (Semenyo, 64 min)
- GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Bournemouth (Semenyo, 76 min)
- GOAL! Liverpool 3-2 Bournemouth (Chiesa, 88 min)
- GOAL! Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth (Salah, 90+4 min)
Liverpool FC 4 - 2 AFC Bournemouth
Bournemouth captain ‘shocked’ and ‘angry’ after Antoine Semenyo reports racist abuse
23:11
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Lawrence Ostlere
Bournemouth captain Adam Smith said he was “shocked” and “angry” after teammate Antoine Semenyo reported receiving racist abuse from a spectator at Anfield on Friday night.
Liverpool won the Premier League season’s opening game 4-2 after goals from Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah, on a night full of tributes for Diogo Jota after his tragic death in July.
But the match was marred by the incident involving Semenyo, who immediately reported what he had heard to match officials.
Read more:
Ekitike lights up Liverpool's opening night marked by grief and marred by racist abuse
22:40
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Richard Jolly
While the Alexander Isak saga drags on, perhaps the question should not be whether he will join Liverpool, but if they actually need him anyway. As four of their forwards scored, as they showed how devastating they can be in attack, it is becoming ever more apparent that Arne Slot has already signed a high-class striker this summer, one with sleekness and speed, the potential to be prolific and an ability to excel at Anfield. And yet a manager who lamented, after taking Hugo Ekitike off in the Community Shield, that he did not have an understudy, conjured a dramatic victory courtesy of Anfield’s forgotten forward.
Read Richard Jolly’s report from Anfield:
Full-time: Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth
22:18
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Lawrence Ostlere
The key moment that saved Liverpool’s night:
"An explosion of red relief!"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Federico Chiesa finds the back of the net! pic.twitter.com/AyWE9DvvPo
Match summary
22:12
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Lawrence Ostlere
Liverpool talisman Mo Salah and fellow forward Federico Chiesa struck late goals as the Premier League champions began the defence of their title by beating Bournemouth 4-2 in a thriller on the opening night of the season at Anfield on Friday.
On a bittersweet evening charged with emotion after the July death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, newcomer Hugo Ekitike bagged a goal on his debut to put the hosts ahead after 37 minutes and Cody Gakpo doubled the lead in the 49th.
But Antoine Semenyo, who was the target of racist abuse in the first half that led to a pause in the game, pulled one back for the visitors in the 64th minute and completed a double 12 minutes later to rock Liverpool and shock the home fans.
However, substitute Chiesa sent the Liverpool faithful away happy with an 88th-minute strike after goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic swatted away a ball into the box by Salah, who scored himself deep into added time to wrap up the three points.
Full-time: Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth
22:01
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Lawrence Ostlere
Mohamed Salah wipes away tears as he stands in front of the Kop listening to chants for Diogo Jota.
Full-time: Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth
22:00
,
Lawrence Ostlere
“I think Liverpool might turn out to be the most entertaining team in the Premier League this season,” Jamie Carragher says on Sky Sports. “I don’t necessarily want to see that. Liverpool are still a work in progress with all these new signings.”
Full-time: Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth
21:58
,
Lawrence Ostlere
A wild ride of a football match, and in the end Liverpool get their win.
GOAL! Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth (Salah, 90+4 min)
21:56
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Lawrence Ostlere
He gets his goal, of course he does. Salah races on to a ball over the top of the Bournemouth defence, wriggles into the box and lets fly with his right foot, finding the far corner.
Liverpool 3-2 Bournemouth
21:53
,
Lawrence Ostlere
90+2 min: Liverpool’s Chiesa song is reverberating around Anfield.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-2 Bournemouth (Chiesa, 88 min)
21:50
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Federico Chiesa has surely won it! The ball bounces around in the Bournemouth box and when it finally drops out of the air, Chiesa is there to swipe it into the corner.
Liverpool 2-2 Bournemouth
21:45
,
Lawrence Ostlere
84 min: David Brooks is replaced by 20-year-old Ben Winterburn.
Liverpool 2-2 Bournemouth
21:43
,
Lawrence Ostlere
82 min: Florian Wirtz is replaced by Federico Chiesa, who I must admit I’d forgotten was still at Liverpool. “That’s a strange substitution, that,” says Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports. “Very strange.”
Liverpool 2-2 Bournemouth
21:42
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Lawrence Ostlere
79 min: Szoboszlai gets a shot away from the edge of the box but it’s blocked by a Bournemouth leg.
A moment later, Evanilson is booked for pulling back Szoboszlai.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Bournemouth (Semenyo, 76 min)
21:38
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Lawrence Ostlere
What a goal this is! Semenyo drives from his half with the ball at his feet as Liverpool’s centre-backs retreat. He looks right, then left, and decides not to pass but to shoot from the edge of the box, and he does so brilliantly, thrashing it into the bottom corner.
Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth
21:35
,
Lawrence Ostlere
73 min: Andoni Iraola makes a change as Hamed Traore replaces Alex Scott.
Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth
21:33
,
Lawrence Ostlere
70 min: Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones replace Mac Allister and Ekitike.
That looks like Endo into midfield, with Wirtz pushing up as a false nine.
Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth
21:29
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Lawrence Ostlere
67 min: Alisson fires a long kick to Salah, breaking through on goal, but Bournemouth defenders rush back to rob the Egyptian.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth (Semenyo, 64 min)
21:26
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Now then! David Brooks delivers a lovely cross into the middle where Semenyo arrives to fire past Alisson, who can only get a glove to it. Game on.
Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth
21:24
,
Lawrence Ostlere
62 min: Wirtz, who has been tidy if a little quiet, rolls a first-time shot from the edge of the box just wide of the post.
Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth
21:21
,
Lawrence Ostlere
59 min: Two changes by Arne Slot at full-back: Endo and Robertson replace Kerkez and Frimpong.
'Gakpo could score 20 goals'
21:20
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Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly at Anfield:
“Terrific finish by Cody Gakpo, who was one of the success stories of Arne Slot's first season at Anfield and who, with Luis Diaz gone, is very much the first-choice left winger now. Stay fit and he could get 20+ goals this season.”
Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth
21:16
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Lawrence Ostlere
55 min: Truffert wipes out Mac Allister – who has been excellent – and is lucky not to get booked.
Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth
21:14
,
Lawrence Ostlere
52 min: Liverpool come forward looking for more, and Bournemouth are clinging on right now.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth (Gakpo, 49 min)
21:10
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Ekitike lays it off for Gakpo, who drives into the box before firing a low finish into the corner. Neatly done.
Second half! Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
21:08
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Back underway.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
21:02
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Lawrence Ostlere
That Ekitike moment:
HUGO EKITIKE!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
On his Premier League debut! pic.twitter.com/loxFsjiwcR
Half-time: Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
20:58
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Sky Sports has confirmed that Antoine Semenyo did indeed report an incident of racist abuse from a fan at Anfield during that first half. What a terrible way to start the season. Semenyo was comforted by teammates as he left the pitch at the break.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
20:51
,
Lawrence Ostlere
The whistle blows on an action-packed first half. Hugo Ekitike’s well-taken finish is the difference at the break, but Bournemouth have had their moments and will fancy they can find a goal before the night is over.
Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
20:50
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Lawrence Ostlere
45+2 min: Tavernier takes an ambitious shot from the set-piece when a cross might have been more threatening to Liverpool’s defence. The champions race up the other end where Salah cuts inside to shoot, but he’s crowded out by recovering defenders.
Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
20:48
,
Lawrence Ostlere
45 min: There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
Bournemouth win a free-kick from Mac Allister in a dangerous position about 30 yards from goal.
'Ekitike has made a dream start at Liverpool'
20:47
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Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly at Anfield:
“Hugo Ekitike continues to make a terrific start to life at Liverpool. He scored in the first half of his debut in the Community Shield and now his Premier League debut. He looks a superb signing. A rather more awkward start for Milos Kerkez, who should have been booked earlier and is cautioned now. Andy Robertson immediately goes to warm up.”
Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth
20:44
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Lawrence Ostlere
40 min: Bournemouth are pushing for a reply, and Kerkez loses his cool in his efforts to deny his old team, flying in for a challenge and picking up a yellow card.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth (Ekitike, 37 min)
20:39
,
Lawrence Ostlere
The breakthrough! Hugo Ekitike takes a pass from Mac Allister before surging towards the penalty box. He loses control of the ball but it bounces back off a Bournemouth defender and the striker continues his run into the area before finishing calmly past Petrovic.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:38
,
Lawrence Ostlere
36 min: Semenyo, by the way, has continued the game. He was spoken to by Slot and one or two Liverpool players, who offered their sympathies.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:36
,
Lawrence Ostlere
34 min: A huge chance for Tavernier! He gets to Smith’s cut-back on the penalty spot but wastes it, scuffing his shot into the ground and into Alisson’s arms.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:34
,
Lawrence Ostlere
30 min: We’re back underway – Sky Sports is suggesting Antoine Semenyo may have been racially abused by a spectator.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:31
,
Lawrence Ostlere
27 min: The match is paused, and it’s not exactly clear why. There are frantic conversations happening on the side of the pitch between officials, coaches and players.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:28
,
Lawrence Ostlere
24 min: Bournemouth are competing gamely here, even if Liverpool are having the majority of the ball, and the territory.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:23
,
Lawrence Ostlere
20 min: A huge cheer goes up on 20 minutes as Liverpool fans sing for their No 20, Jota.
'Bournemouth have started well'
20:21
,
Richard Jolly
Here’s Richard Jolly at Anfield:
“There's a real pace and zip to this so far. Liverpool are looking very dangerous on the bright, with the front four combining well. There are also signs of frailty at the back, as there were in the Community Shield. Bournemouth look undaunted by their status as underdogs or their summer sales. A couple of their newcomers have made positive starts, Petrovic with a terrific save and Truffert with a fine cross.”
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:19
,
Lawrence Ostlere
16 min: The normally calm and reserved Arne Slot could not believe that decision. He was furious.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:18
,
Lawrence Ostlere
15 min: Now then – Senesi has definitely handled the ball with the tip of his fingers, denying Ekitike from running through on goal, albeit with a long way to run from the halfway line.
That is a handball and possibly even a red card, but the referee doesn’t seem to see it and VAR chooses not to intervene. I think they’ve missed a major incident there.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:14
,
Lawrence Ostlere
12 min: Van Dijk sweeps a pass too far over Gakpo’s head and off the pitch, to the delight of the visiting fans. Bournemouth are doing OK here after getting through some early waves of pressure.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:11
,
Lawrence Ostlere
9 min: Alisson safely gathers a corner, after Konate had passed the ball off the pitch needlessly.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:09
,
Lawrence Ostlere
6 min: A warning for Liverpool, as left-back Truffert whips in a cross for Semenyo who fires over the bar from 12 yards. That was a real chance!
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:06
,
Lawrence Ostlere
4 min: This time it’s Salah, cutting inside from the right wing and letting fly, very much in his sphere of influence, but Petrovic dives across well to parry clear.
Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:05
,
Lawrence Ostlere
2 min: Ekitike takes the first shot of the season, from range, which is deflected and saved well down low by Petrovic. Liverpool have started with purpose.
Kick-off! Liverpool 0-0 Bournemouth
20:02
,
Lawrence Ostlere
The new season is underway.
Liverpool v Bournemouth
20:01
,
Lawrence Ostlere
After a booming rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone, a minute’s silence for Diogo Jota – impeccably observed.
Bournemouth fans make touching gesture
19:58
,
Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly at Anfield:
“Anfield’s loudest rendition of Diogo Jota’s song is accompanied by banners commemorating the late forward, one of them in the Bournemouth end, in a fine gesture by the visiting fans.”
Liverpool v Bournemouth
19:57
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Here come the players, emerging to a booming verse of Diogo Jota’s anthem.
Liverpool have learnt from Community Shield, says Kerkez
19:55
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Lawrence Ostlere
Milos Kerkez tells Sky Sports, on facing his old team: “It is nice to see all the lads again. At the beginning of the season it is important to start well and it will be good to see familiar faces again.
“We have corrected the mistakes we made in the last game, the Community Shield, and today we want to show we are capable of everything. We want to win.
“Every club was active in the market, everyone was taking players, so this year there is going to be a lot of competition. And obviously everyone wants to beat the champions, but we are Liverpool and we are ready for the challenge.”
Liverpool v Bournemouth line-ups
19:51
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Lawrence Ostlere
We’re only 10 minutes from kick-off. Here’s a reminder of the two line-ups tonight:
Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Evanilso
The empires strike back as Premier League enters uncertain new era
19:46
,
Lawrence Ostlere
There’s no better time to read Miguel Delaney’s big preview on the new Premier League season:
It’s a line being uttered by many in the Premier League, that maybe says more than intended. Liverpool, in the specific words of one fearful rival, have “destroyed the market” this summer. Everybody expected the champions to buy from a position of strength, but the thinking was the usual astute signings and maybe one big one. Liverpool have instead gone for real game-changers. And, in the process, maybe changed the Premier League.
They look set to claim the signing that Arsenal long wanted in Alexander Isak. They’ve already beaten Manchester City to the signing of Florian Wirtz, and that less than three years after Jurgen Klopp spoke of three clubs – including City and Isak’s Newcastle United – who can “do what they want financially”.
Maybe, after all the talk of “Moneyball”, this approach is just the “maturation” of an investment fund’s approach to football. Maybe there’s something more going on.
Read more:
Arne Slot speaks
19:38
,
Lawrence Ostlere
On leaky defending during preseason: “If you look at the facts, what toy are saying is true. In general don’t think we conced may chances, but the ones we do concede are goals. We did concede more goals in pre season almost than we did in the whole of last season.”
Arne Slot speaks
19:34
,
Lawrence Ostlere
The Liverpool manager tells Sky Sports, of the club’s lavish summer spending: “A lot of players go at a club like this and it is normal to replace them, or we would use the u18 today which would not be smart. We lost many so we brought in many. Of course we have lost a few very good players but the ones we have brought in are special as well.”
Liverpool v Bournemouth – live
19:28
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Fans arriving before kick-off this evening:
Premier League predictions
19:19
,
Lawrence Ostlere
The Premier League is back and just 33 days after Chelsea appeared to bring the curtain down on the 2024/25 season with their thumping win in the Club World Cup final, champions Liverpool kick off their title defence against Bournemouth at Anfield tonight.
Here are The Independent football writers’ predictions for the season ahead:
Liverpool v Bournemouth
19:09
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Lawrence Ostlere
It will be interesting to see if Arne Slot adapts his approach slightly after the Community Shield, where Palace made a lot of inroads behind the two new full-backs, Frimpong and Kerkez. The absence of Gravenberch is a big miss.
Seven Premier League debuts to kick off season
19:00
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Richard Jolly at Anfield
Richard Jolly is at Anfield for The Independent tonight:
“Liverpool have made a new signing today, in Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26m. Four of their earlier arrivals make their Premier League debuts for their new club (and, in three cases, for any club) in Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Compared to the Community Shield, Alexis Mac Allister is in for Curtis Jones. Bournemouth give three arrivals debuts, in Djordje Petrovic, Adrien Truffert and Bafobe Diakite.”
Bournemouth line-up
18:50
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Bournemouth haven’t tweeted their line-up, but here it is:
Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Evanilson.
Subs: Dennis, Araujo, Soler, Kroupi, Hill, Traore, Billing, Winterburn, Rees-Dottin.
Liverpool line-up
18:46
,
Lawrence Ostlere
The Liverpool line-up tonight is as expected.
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
The Reds to take on Bournemouth #LIVBOU
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 15, 2025
Liverpool v Bournemouth – live
18:42
,
Lawrence Ostlere
The two line-ups will be confirmed in just a few minutes...
Liverpool sign Loeni from Parma
18:38
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Slot continued to reinforce his squad, confirming on Thursday that the club had agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma.
While no financial details were disclosed, British media reported the fee for the Serie A player at €26m.
Leoni will immediately join the first team, with the club ruling out any possibility of a loan move.
The teenager will join Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez – who is a doubt tonight having recently returned from an Achilles injury – among Slot's centre-back options and shore up a back line that showed frailties during pre-season.
18:29
,
Lawrence Ostlere
There will be tributes paid to Diogo Jota tonight, in the first Premier League game at Anfield since his death in July. This lovely mural now fills a wall on the walk to the ground:
FPL tips – 30 players you should consider signing for GW1
18:16
,
Lawrence Ostlere
You’ve got about 15 minutes to finalise your Fantasy Premier League team – here are some tips for gameweek 1 and the season ahead:
Bournemouth closing in on Doak signing
18:08
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Meanwhile, Bournemouth are close to agreeing a £25m deal for Liverpool winger Ben Doak.
Porto are also interested in the Scotland international but the likelihood is that he opts to stay in the Premier League.
Doak has been a target for a host of other clubs this summer, with Wolves, West Ham and Leeds among his other suitors.
But Bournemouth have made a move, with their transfer budget boosted by receiving £40m from Liverpool earlier this summer for left-back Milos Kerkez.
Slot says Liverpool are too 'honest' on the pitch
17:55
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Lawrence Ostlere
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot believes his team are too honest for their own good but he does not want them to change in their defence of their Premier League title.
The Dutchman said he often "blamed" them for not taking a genuine foul when they had the option but also felt their positive approach was in part responsible for their success last season.
"If there is one team in the league that is, in my opinion, the most honest when we play - I sometimes blame them that they never try to make from a foul a little bit more - and never dives and never time delays and all these kind of things, then it is us," said Slot.
"In the (Community Shield) game against Palace they hold Florian (Wirtz) in midfield and he didn't fall over and the referee says 'If you don't fall, I don't give a free-kick', which is a little bit weird.
"Than a fraction later they fell down in a moment which wasn't even a foul and the referee thought 'Oh, he fell down so it probably is a foul'. We had much more ball possession than Palace but we made 13 fouls and they made five. That tells you also about who we are."
How Wirtz can live up to his icon potential
17:43
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Our senior football correspondent Richard Jolly wrote this week:
Arne Slot had made a comparison with Harvey Elliott. He had already mentioned his biggest buy as a successor of sorts to Alisson and Virgil van Dijk. Then he reached for the ultimate, and not
