Liverpool Dutch head coach, Arne Slot, has described his side’s 4-2 triumph over AFC Bournemouth on Friday night as “great”.
The Reds recorded their first win of the Premier League 2025/26 on Friday 15 August, 2025 over the Cherries at Anfield.
At his post-Bournemouth press conference, Slot said, “I think it was a great game. In the end we won it.”
New addition, Hugo Ekitike, opened scoring for the hosts, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah also hit the back of the net; and Bournemouth netted twice through Antoine Semenyo.
According to liverpoolfc.com, Slot said:
On the win and Federico Chiesa…
“Great game, three teams involved in a great game. You’ll ask me why three. Of course, Bournemouth and us playing and the referee that just kept the game going and didn’t blow his whistle every single time for every small thing. I think it was a great game to watch. In the end we won it, so that helps for my emotions.
“After the fans sung for him so many times during the game already and last season as well, I think it is very nice for him to give them something in return – and that’s definitely what he did today. [It was] an unbelievable atmosphere in the final minutes.”
Emotion from the game and tribute to Jota…
“If you have half an hour [I can explain how I feel]! But the main emotion should be how impressive and powerful the tribute for Diogo was. The banner the Kop showed, the way You’ll Never Walk Alone was sung, the way they sung for Diogo before the game, in the first minute, after 20 minutes and at the end of the game. It was all so, so impressive and so powerful. My main emotion is after the game that ended in 4-2.”
On the racial abuse involving Semenyo…
“I think it is under investigation with the police. But we definitely need to address this because it’s unacceptable in every football stadium, let alone at Anfield. I spoke to him [Semenyo] after the game that we will try to do everything to find that person. I am not 100 per cent sure but I think they already found him. That’s a good thing.
“Wherever we can help him we will try to do so. Big credit to him, if something happens like this and you can perform so well in the second half then he’s not only a great player, but he is also very strong mentally.”
Photo: Liverpool manager, Arne Slot | X/Liverpool FC
