Jamie Carragher said referee Anthony Taylor had received a version of the events that “did not occur” when Marcos Senesi de Bournemouth escaped a potential red card against Liverpool in the Premier League in Anfield.
The new Liverpool striker, Hugo Ekitike, would have broken out from the central circle, but for an intervention by the last man on the Senesi which seemed to be made with the hand of the central defender.
Var says no, but @ Carra23 was convinced that it was handball 🧐 pic.twitter.com/ks8hoewn7s
– Sky Sports Premier League (@skysportspl) August 15, 2025
Deputy Video Referee (Var) Michael Oliver seemed to inform Taylor that the ball was initially out of Senesi’s leg, preventing him from being able to stop with handball.
“He realizes that he has a massive problem and moves his hand towards the ball,” said Carragher. “What I just heard from Var did not happen.”
Liverpool vs Bournemouth: Ekitike objective
Ekitike should have run the length of half of Bournemouth and beat goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, but Senesi could well have been sent if the decision had been against him.
“I don’t like to see people send and the debate would have been how far it was from the goal,” said Carragher. “The referee received the wrong information.”
Ekitike had his revenge with the operator in the 37th minute, collecting the pass of Alexis Mac Allister and playing the ball through Senesi before hitting the opening goal to the right of the box.
Bournemouth had seemed more likely to score at that time, although Mohamed Salah had an early curling effort on the transverse bar by Petrovic and sent to a cross that Virgil Van Dijk was heading for the visible embarrassment of Manager Arne Slot.
Ekitike: “Two big chances of Liverpool, two goals”
“What a beginning he had in his career as a Liverpool,” said Carragher, chatting with the signing of 69 million pounds Sterling who also marked after four minutes of the Liverpool community defeat against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
“It’s a beautiful pass from Alexis Mac Allister. Ekitike is a little lucky. He had two big chance in a Liverpool shirt and scored two goals.
“Liverpool needed it. Bournemouth was excellent but they find themselves behind.”
Liverpool vs Bournemouth team
A multitude of signatures made their first league debut during the opening match of the 2025/26 season.
Alongside Ekitike, midfielder Florian Wirtz was one of the new faces after joining the Bayer Leverkusen Reds for costs that could reach a British record of 116 million pounds sterling.
The back left Milos Kerkez joined 40 million pounds from Bournemouth and the right back Jeremie Frimpong signed from Leverkusen for 29.5 million pounds sterling.
Joe Gomez was released to Liverpool with a minor fitness problem, just like his colleague Defender Conor Bradley with a problem with the hamstrings.
Mac Allister midfielder started despite a lack of minutes when he recovered from an injury during the pre-season, but Ryan Gravenberch was suspended.
Liverpool starts XI: Alisson, Frimpong, Contact, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Olister Mac, Szoboszlah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Salah, Ekitic, Ekitice
Liverpool substitutes: Magasashvili, Gomez, Emdo, Emdo, Jones, Elliot, Roberton, a wooden harness
Bournemouth team against Liverpool
Bournemouth gave arcs to Petrovic, the rear left Adrien Truffert and Bafode Diakite, a central defender who arrived this week from Lille for costs that could reach more than 34 million pounds sterling.
Petrovic, who joined Chelsea for 25 million pounds Sterling in July, saved a penalty in a 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad last week.
Diakite is the second most expensive signature in Bournemouth, after the 40.2 million pounds sterling paid in Porto for striker Evanilson in 2024.
Dango Ouattara was not involved because Brentford continued a move for the international of Burkina Faso.
Another Iraola player width, Luis Sinisterra, was also absent because of the uncertainty about his future, and midfielder Lewis Cook was suspended and has an injury that could keep him away for two games.
The striker Justin Kluivert had a calf problem and the midfielder Ryan Christie was not yet back to a great shape.
UNAL ENES recovered from a serious knee injury suffered by the attacker in January.
Bournemouth Start XI: Petrovic, Smith, Senesi, Diakite, Truffert, Adams, Scott, Tavernier, Semenyo, Evanilson, Kroupi
Bournemouth substitutes: Denijo, Etpejo, Soler, Crouraq, Hill, Holrse, Billing, Wilterbur, Till-Dirttin
How to watch Liverpool vs Bournemouth: live broadcast, television channel
Friday kick-off was at 8:00 p.m. BST (3:00 p.m. and / 12:00 pm), with live coverage in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra.
Prices for Sky Sports and TNT Sports vary. Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £ 14.99 for a one -day subscription, £ 26 per month for a six -month or £ 34.99 subscription per month without a contract.
The Sky Sports subscriptions include access to the 12 live and Sky Sports +Sports channels, which offers live flows and a dedicated channel.
