Liverpool's first home game of the new Premier League season was an up and down affair as they challenged Bournemouth. The Reds were short-handed after first missing a penalty, then suffering a penalty shootout and a red-card penalty at halftime, yet they opened the new season with a thrilling 3-1 victory.
Portsmouth capitalized on Liverpool's mistakes soon after the start, with Alexandre Arnault delivering two big strikes in quick succession to help his side penetrate the Liverpool defense twice. The first goal was disallowed for offside, but it was followed by a powerful shot from Anthony Schmeikan that broke the deadlock and left the Reds trailing 0-1 inside three minutes.
However, the lead didn't last long. In the face of Liverpool's fierce counter-attack, the defense gradually failed. Wakil Wendicek's header hit the crossbar, but Luis Diaz's shot equalized for Liverpool in the 27th minute to make it 1-1.
Suboslal, who joined Liverpool this season, grabbed a 12-yarder from the edge of the box and Mohamed Sana's spot-kick was parried by Nitu but Sana calmly followed up with a shot to put the Reds back in front, 2-1, on 36 minutes to end the half.
