Ekitiké meets again
© Imago
The English master FC Liverpool started the new Premier League season with an emotional victory. The team led by German international Florian Wirtz played a 2-0 lead at the start against the AFC Bournemouth, but still came to a 4: 2 (1: 0). Before the kick-off in the stadium, club and fans thought of the late Reds professional Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva.
Former Frankfurt Hugo Ekitiké (37th minute) with his second goal in the second assignment and Cody Gakpo (49th) met for the offensive strong defending champion, who, however, was susceptible to the defensive. Bournemouths Antoine Semenyo (64./76.) Shocked Liverpool with a double pack. But the Federico Chiesa (82nd), which had just been substituted for Wirtz, brought the Reds into the lead again before Mohamed Salah (90.+4) made everything clear.
In addition to the goal shooter Ekitiké and the former Leverkusener Wirtz, who remained largely inconspicuous, the third newcomer from the Bundesliga also stood in the starting eleven. Jeremie Frimpong also switched from Bayer to the Reds this summer.
In the first half, the game was interrupted for a few minutes after Semenyo had reported to the referee that he was racially insulted by the stands. After a short consultation of referee Anthony Taylor with Liverpool coach Arne Slot and Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola, the game continued.
Emotional Liverpool commemoration of Diogo Jota
Before the kick -off, a minute’s silence for Diogo Jota and his brother had been held in the Fanlde stadium. The two Portuguese footballers died in a car accident in Spain in early July. Diogo Jota had played for Liverpool since 2020.
During the commemoration, fans held up on the famous grandstand The Kop Schilder in the colors green, red and white. This read the lettering DJ20 and AS30 – the initials and jersey numbers of the brothers. In their goal celebrated, Ekitiké and Gakpo formed a 20th in the 20th minute with their hands, the entire stadium rose to pay the last honor to the deceased players applauding
Previously, numerous scarves, flags and banners with pictures and lettering had been seen in honor of Diogo Jotas and his brother, while the Liverpool supporters sang their famous hymn “You’ll never walk alone”. Even during the game and after the final whistle, spectators repeatedly sang Diogo Jota’s name.
The news of the death of the brothers had caused grief and dismay in the entire football world and beyond. On the opening weekend of the Premier League, there should be a minute’s silence for the deceased before all games.