Anfield was a stage of raw emotion, theatre and controversy as Hugo Ekitike announced himself in Liverpool colours with a dazzling debut performance in a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth. The £70m striker, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt, delivered a display that made him an instant Kop favourite on a night dedicated to the memory of Diogo Jota.
00:00Anfield was a stage of raw emotion, theatre and controversy as Hugo Ecotique announced himself in Liverpool colours with a dazzling debut performance in a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth.
00:13The £70m striker signed from Eintracht Frankfurt delivered a display that made him an instant cop favourite on a night dedicated to the memory of Diogo Jota.
00:24Ecotique's future may yet be complicated with Liverpool still circling Newcastle United's Alexander Izak but here he made a forceful case for his place.
00:34Composed in front of goal and intelligent in his link-up play, the Frenchman struck the opener, created another for Cody Batgakpo and celebrated with a 20 gesture in tribute to Jota whose number he wore on his heart.
00:47The atmosphere was heavy with remembrance. Tributes flowed for Jota, killed in a car accident in July, with banners draped across the carp and a minute's silence followed by applause in the 20th minute.
01:03Mahmoud Salah capped the evening by mimicking Jota's shark celebration after scoring Liverpool's fourth.
01:09Anishlott's side showcased their £300m summer overhaul with four debutants, starting Ecotique, Florian Wirtz, Jeremy Frimpong and Milos Kerkhez.
01:20No reigning Premier League champion had ever fielded so many opening day newcomers.
01:26Yet Liverpool's defensive frailties were glaring.
01:29Antoine Semenya's superb solo equaliser capitalising on errors from Salah and passive back line.
01:35Sadly, the evening was tainted by alleged racist abuse directed at Semenya during the first half.
01:43Every Anthony Taylor halted play and the incident drew widespread outrage.
01:48Liverpool's late goals from Salah and Federico Chiesa secured victory, but the win came with a warning sign.
01:55Slot's champions remain in a work in progress, caught between betting in expensive recruits and rediscovering defensive stability.
02:02For Ecotique, however, it was the perfect introduction, a performance brimming with promise, passion and poise on a night Anfield will never forget.
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