Reds off to a winning start

But Slot's champions are made to work hard for victory

- By CARL MARKHAM

LIVERPOOL'S defence of their Premier League title got off to an unconvincing start with a late 4-2 victory over Bournemouth.

Arne Slot's men were made to sweat after winger Antoine Semenyo hit both the Cherries' goals as they came from two down as Andoni Iraola's side exposed the same defensive weaknesses Crystal Palace did in Sunday's Community Shield.

But forgotten man Federico Chiesa, Liverpool's solitary signing last summer who has barely featured and whose future looked to be elsewhere, volleyed home his first league goal in the 88th minute before Mohamed Salah scored for the eighth time in nine opening-day fixtures.

Semenyo, who did not allow alleged racist abuse in a first-half incident throw him off his game, gave former teammate and Liverpool's new left-back Milos Kerkez a torrid time.

Liverpool had announced the £23million signing of 18-year-old Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni before kickoff but it would be no surprise for this result to hasten the pursuit of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi with Ibrahima Konate, in particular, looking particularly shaky.

It had begun so well with another new signing Hugo Ekitike starting to pay back his £69million transfer fee with a first-half goal, having scored last weekend.