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Tag: Liverpool

  • Ben Doak Joins Bournemouth for £25m

    Ben Doak Joins Bournemouth for £25m

    Liverpool winger Ben Doak has joined Bournemouth in a £25m permanent transfer, taking the Reds’ summer sales past £200m.

    The 19-year-old arrived at Anfield from Celtic in 2022 and quickly made an impact in the youth teams. He scored 10 goals and provided numerous assists across the U18s, U19s and U21s in his first season.

    Doak made his senior debut just two days before his 17th birthday in a Carabao Cup win over Derby County and went on to make 10 appearances for Liverpool, including a few Premier League outings off the bench.

    Ben Doak Joins Bournemouth for £25m
    Ben Doak Joins Bournemouth for £25m

    Doak spent the 2024–25 season on loan at Middlesbrough, impressing in the Championship with three goals and seven assists in 24 appearances. Bournemouth beat competition from Porto, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, and West Ham to secure the Scotland international, who arrives as a replacement for Dango Ouattara, who was sold to Brentford for £42m.

    Liverpool have included a buyback clause in the deal, giving them the option to reacquire Doak in the future. He is the latest departure from Anfield this summer, following Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyler Morton, Nat Phillips, Caoimhin Kelleher and Jarell Quansah.

    The Reds are guaranteed £206m from their summer sales, with potential add-ons taking it to £227m, while already spending over £300m and reportedly still targeting one more attacker.

  • ‘Won’t Win League’ – Jamie Carragher Warns If Arne Slot Doesn’t Solve Problem

    ‘Won’t Win League’ – Jamie Carragher Warns If Arne Slot Doesn’t Solve Problem

    Jamie Carragher has warned that Liverpool “won’t win the league” unless Arne Slot addresses defensive issues exposed in Friday’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth.

    The reigning Premier League champions raced into a 2-0 lead through Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo, but Bournemouth hit back with two clinical strikes from Antoine Semenyo. Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah rescued all three points late for the Reds.

    Carragher, on Sky Sports punditry, criticised Liverpool’s defensive approach, calling it “absolutely shocking” when leading 2-1. He highlighted the vulnerability of centre-back Ibrahima Konate and the space left by attacking full-backs.

    “It’s unbelievable. How many players were ahead of the ball – maybe eight – when they were winning 2-1? That can’t happen,” said Carragher. “For Semenyo to run that far and get his shot away is incredible – but where is Konate? He had a really, really poor night.”

    ‘Won’t Win League’ – Jamie Carragher Warns If Arne Slot Doesn’t Solve Problem | Strictly LFC
    ‘Won’t Win League’ – Jamie Carragher Warns If Arne Slot Doesn’t Solve Problem

    The former defender stressed that the problem is tactical rather than personnel. “It’s only a game on top of the Community Shield, but this idea that everyone bombs forward, it’s not for me. At no time last week did I ever feel Liverpool were in control,” he said.

    Carragher also noted that new signing Giovanni Leoni and potential target Marc Guehi won’t solve the underlying issue if Slot’s system leaves centre-backs isolated.

    “There is definitely a problem Arne Slot has to solve,” he added. “A centre-back doesn’t fix that. If Liverpool continues like that, I don’t think they will win the league.”

  • ‘Absolute Disgrace’ – Van Dijk Condemns Racist Abuse Directed at Semenyo

    ‘Absolute Disgrace’ – Van Dijk Condemns Racist Abuse Directed at Semenyo

    Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who scored twice in the 4–2 defeat to Liverpool, was subjected to racist abuse on social media, hours after he had already been targeted by a fan at Anfield.

    Semenyo was subjected to abuse from a fan in the stadium, who was removed after referee Anthony Taylor spoke to the benches. Hours later, the 25-year-old was again targeted on Instagram with monkey emojis. He posted a screenshot of one of the comments with the caption: “When will it stop…”

    Liverpool released a statement pledging their support for Semenyo and confirmed they are working with Merseyside Police, who are investigating the incident.

    Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk described the abuse as “an absolute disgrace” and promised his full support for the Ghanaian international.

    ‘Absolute Disgrace’ – Van Dijk Condemns Racist Abuse Directed at Semenyo - Strictly LFC
    ‘Absolute Disgrace’ – Van Dijk Condemns Racist Abuse Directed at Semenyo

    “I’ve had loads of conversations with him about it, and first and foremost, I wanted to know what happened. I am glad the authorities are dealing with it; that is the main thing,” Van Dijk said.

    “But we stand with him completely, and I think every one of you here would say the same thing: these things can’t happen. So anything he needs for support, I am here for him.

    “We are all here for him, to be honest, but the club as well, and they are dealing with it in the right way, I am fully confident about that.

    “I can’t believe it. I can say these things that it shouldn’t happen, but unfortunately, it does, and it is an absolute disgrace in my eyes.”

    Van Dijk added that racism “is not of this world” and insisted football must continue to fight against discrimination.

  • ‘I Would Have Loved to Bring on Diogo Jota’ – Arne Slot

    ‘I Would Have Loved to Bring on Diogo Jota’ – Arne Slot

    Arne Slot admitted he wished he could have called on Diogo Jota as Liverpool fought back to beat Bournemouth 4-2 in their Premier League opener at Anfield.

    The Portuguese forward, who tragically passed away alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in July, was known for delivering late goals on big occasions. His final strike for the Reds was a decisive winner against Everton at the Kop End last season.

    Liverpool had led 2-0 on Friday night but were pegged back to 2-2 with time running out. Federico Chiesa restored the lead in the 88th minute before Mohamed Salah sealed the points deep into stoppage time.

    Reflecting on the tense finale, Slot said:

    ‘I Would Have Loved to Bring on Diogo Jota’ - Arne Slot | Strictly LFC

    “Normally, at 2-2, everyone knows which player I look to at that moment in time. I would have loved to bring in Diogo Jota, but I could not for terrible reasons. But tonight the fans and the players did what he did for us many times in the past.”

    The Liverpool boss also praised his squad’s mentality after a difficult summer.
    “Bournemouth faced a team that never gave up. We lost many players during the summer, but we did not lose our mentality.”

    The emotion inside Anfield matched Slot’s words. Supporters sang Jota’s song long after the final whistle, with Salah joining in through tears and copying his late teammate’s celebration. Before kickoff, the Kop unveiled a tribute spelling out “DJ20” while players and staff from both clubs wore black armbands.

  • Police Launch Hate Crime Investigation After Alleged Racist Abuse at Anfield

    Police Launch Hate Crime Investigation After Alleged Racist Abuse at Anfield

    Merseyside Police have launched a hate crime investigation after a 47-year-old fan was ejected from Anfield following reports of racist abuse directed at Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during Friday’s Premier League opener.

    The incident occurred in the first half, with play briefly stopped after referee Anthony Taylor was informed. Police confirmed the fan’s identity and removed him from the stadium.

    Chief Inspector Kev Chatterton, the match commander, said:

    “We take incidents like this very seriously, and in cases like this, we will be proactively seeking football banning orders, with the club, against those responsible.”

    Police Launch Hate Crime Investigation After Alleged Racist Abuse at Anfield - Strictly LFC
    Police Launch Hate Crime Investigation After Alleged Racist Abuse at Anfield

    Bournemouth captain Adam Smith described the incident as “totally unacceptable” and said:
    “I’m shocked it happened in this day and age. I said to the ref I wanted him removed immediately, but the police went and sorted it. The Liverpool players were very supportive to Ant and the rest of the team.”

    Liverpool released a statement saying:

    “Liverpool Football Club is aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against AFC Bournemouth. We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms. The club is unable to comment further as tonight’s alleged incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully.”

    Police Launch Hate Crime Investigation After Alleged Racist Abuse at Anfield

    Premier League officials also commented:

    “Tonight’s match was temporarily paused during the first half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo. This is in line with the on-field anti-discrimination protocol. The incident at Anfield will now be fully investigated. We offer our full support to the player and both clubs.”

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot added:

    “The club made a clear statement. We don’t want this in football; we don’t want this happening in stadiums, especially not at Anfield. It takes the shine off the game because our fans were amazing, especially with the tributes to Diogo [Jota].”

    Anti-racism charity Kick It Out said it “stands in solidarity” with Semenyo, praising the player for calling out the abuse and commending referee Anthony Taylor and his team for acting swiftly.

  • Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth: Ekitike Scores As Reds Secure Win

    Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth: Ekitike Scores As Reds Secure Win

    Liverpool opened their 2025-26 Premier League season with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield.

    The night began with heartfelt tributes to the late Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, with a minute of silence, a mosaic, and Jota’s song echoing around the stadium.

    The match started quickly, with Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah both bright early on. Ekitike was unlucky when VAR denied a possible handball by Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi. The first half also saw a brief stoppage when Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo reported racist abuse from a fan.

    Liverpool broke the deadlock before half-time as Ekitike took advantage of a lucky bounce to finish calmly past Djordje Petrovic.

    Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth: Ekitike Scores As Reds Secure Win -Strictly LFC
    Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth: Ekitike Scores As Reds Secure Win

    Liverpool started the second half strongly. Ekitike’s clever run and hold-up play set up Cody Gakpo, who scored to make it 2-0. Manager Arne Slot made changes on the hour, bringing on Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson for Frimpong and Kerkez.

    Bournemouth hit back quickly. David Brooks delivered a ball for Semenyo to score 2-1, and shortly after, Semenyo ran through the middle of the Liverpool defence to make it 2-2.

    Liverpool responded with more changes, bringing on Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, and, later, Federico Chiesa. The Italian striker volleyed in a superb third goal in the 88th minute, giving Liverpool the lead again. Mohamed Salah sealed the win in stoppage time, curling in his shot to make it 4-2, taking his Premier League tally to 187 goals.

    Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth: Ekitike Scores As Reds Secure Win | Strictly LFC
    Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth: Ekitike Scores As Reds Secure Win

    Liverpool will now prepare for their next match away at Newcastle.

  • ‘Not a clear handball’: Premier League defends Senesi Handball Controversy

    ‘Not a clear handball’: Premier League defends Senesi Handball Controversy

    Just 14 minutes into the Premier League’s opening match, controversy struck when Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi appeared to handle the ball under pressure from Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike.

    What looked like a blatant handball and possible red card was waved away by referee Anthony Taylor, while VAR chose not to intervene, a decision that has since ignited debate.

    The flashpoint arose as Mohamed Salah attempted to play Ekitike through on goal. Senesi miscontrolled the ball, leaving the Liverpool forward with a chance to break free.

    In an attempt to recover, the Argentine stretched out his arm and made contact with it before clearing moments later. Liverpool players, led by Cody Gakpo, immediately appealed, yet their protests were dismissed.

    And the debate intensified on television as Sky Sports commentators highlighted the incident as one of the first major VAR calls of the season.

    Peter Drury reported that the review suggested the ball had ricocheted awkwardly off Senesi’s body before striking his arm.

    Image credit: SkySports

    However, sitting alongside him, Jamie Carragher was unconvinced and insisted: “That’s handball. He knows exactly what he’s doing, it’s his reaction as a defender.”

    Carragher went further in his criticism, accusing officials of misguiding the referee. “The information the referee got there was not correct,” the former Liverpool defender said.

    He argued that VAR had once again failed to apply consistency in interpreting the handball law, leaving both fans and players frustrated.

    The Premier League moved quickly to defend the decision, posting an explanation on its official Match Centre via X (formerly Twitter). The statement read:

    The referee’s call of no red card to Senesi was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed not to be a clear handball offence nor denial of a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO), due to the distance from goal.

    That clarification has done little to silence critics, with many questioning why intent and reaction were overlooked.

    Supporters pointed out that while the incident occurred far from goal, Ekitike was in space and could have advanced dangerously had play continued.

    For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, the call was met with visible anger on the touchline as he demanded an explanation.

    Nevertheless, Liverpool did not allow the setback to disrupt their rhythm.

    On 37 minutes, new signing Ekitike seized the chance to punish Senesi directly, beating him with ease before calmly slotting past goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic for his first Premier League goal.

    The strike gave the Reds the lead, and it added another layer of irony to the earlier flashpoint.

  • Confirmed Liverpool Lineup vs Bournemouth: Alexis Mac Allister Starts

    Confirmed Liverpool Lineup vs Bournemouth: Alexis Mac Allister Starts

    Liverpool have confirmed their starting line-up for today’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth, with Alexis Mac Allister returning as Arne Slot makes one change from last weekend’s side.

    Joe Gomez is back from injury and named on the bench, while summer signings Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz make their first league appearances for the champions.

    Captain Virgil van Dijk partners Ibrahima Konate at centre-back, with Frimpong and Kerkez providing the width from full-back. Mac Allister starts in the No. 6 role alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, with Wirtz in his natural No. 10 position.

    Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo start out wide, with Ekitike leading the line.

    Ryan Gravenberch is suspended and Conor Bradley remains out injured, while new signing Giovanni Leoni, confirmed just hours before kick-off, will watch from the stands.

    Liverpool XI vs Bournemouth
    Alisson; Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike, Frimpong

    Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha

  • Liverpool Sign Giovanni Leoni From Parma

    Liverpool Sign Giovanni Leoni From Parma

    Liverpool have confirmed the signing of highly-rated Italian defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma, taking the club’s summer spending beyond £300 million.

    The 18-year-old centre-back has signed a six-year deal at Anfield in a transfer worth an initial £26m plus add-ons. He will join Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez in Arne Slot’s defensive options for the new season.

    Leoni impressed in Serie A last term with 17 appearances for Parma and has already broken into Italy’s U19 side. His move is still subject to international clearance and a work permit, but he is expected to be available for Friday’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth.

    Liverpool Sign Giovanni Leoni From Parma - Strictly LFC
    Liverpool Sign Giovanni Leoni From Parma

    The teenager has long admired Liverpool captain Van Dijk, and after making his debut for Padova in 2023, he described the Dutchman as an inspiration.

    Speaking to Liverpool’s official website after completing his move, Leoni said:

    “Because it’s one of the best clubs in the world, it’s not possible to say no to this club. I’m very happy to be here. It’s a really great sensation and I’m honoured to be here. When I saw Liverpool were interested, I said, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’”

    Leoni arrives to strengthen a position where Slot has been short of options during pre-season, with just two fit centre-backs available following the sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.

    Liverpool have now brought in eight players this summer, but have also raised close to £200m through player sales, including Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton and Nat Phillips.

    The Reds remain interested in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi, although talks over a fee have slowed.

  • Diogo Jota’s Family to Attend Liverpool Opener

    Diogo Jota’s Family to Attend Liverpool Opener

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that the family of the late Diogo Jota will be at Anfield for the Reds’ Premier League opener against Bournemouth. Jota tragically lost his life in a car accident last month, alongside his brother, shortly after his wedding.

    Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in June, and the couple shared three children. His family is expected to witness Liverpool’s first league game since the tragedy.

    In his matchday programme notes, Slot paid tribute to Jota and his loved ones. “The tributes across the football world, and especially from the LFC community, have been truly special,” he wrote.

    “I believe Diogo’s wife, children and family will be in attendance, and it is important that, as a club, we show our love and support as they face this most tragic of situations. We are there for them always.”

    Diogo Jota’s Family to Attend Liverpool Opener -Strictly LFC
    Diogo Jota’s Family to Attend Liverpool Opener

    Alexis Mac Allister also shared a heartfelt message about his late teammate in the Players’ Tribune. “There’s one in the group who will hold a special place in our hearts forever,” he said.

    “He was always down-to-earth, family-oriented, and never pretended to be someone he wasn’t. I will always remember him with a smile, and I know he’ll be supporting us from above.”

    Ahead of the Bournemouth game, Slot added: “From a football point of view, we are glad to be back for a competitive game. There’s nothing like Anfield under the lights, and we are all looking forward to getting our campaign underway this evening.”