Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has thanked his teammates, Liverpool’s players and the soccer community as a whole for the “overwhelming messages of support” he received after reporting that he was racially abused by a fan during the Premier League’s season opener at Anfield.

A handball controversy was the highlight of the first half game between Liverpool vs Bournemouth in the 2025/26 Premier League opener. The Reds wanted the card, but referee Anthony Taylor decided not to show any card – as he is the referee that gives books the most in the League.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has condemned the racial abuse aimed at Antoine Semenyo and has offered support to the striker.

It was a game that easily could have got away from Liverpool, and now captain Virgil van Dijk has sent a clear message to the decision-makers at Anfield. When speaking in his post-match interview, van Dijk reiterated his desire to improve the squad after the Reds captain called for a new forward following the Community Shield loss.

A house on Walton Breck Road in Anfield was evacuated on August 4 after it was found to be structurally unsound