4-2! Slott s magical substitution turns the situation around, and super substitute Liverpool won a good start to the season

The opening match of the 2025/26 Premier League season was staged passionately in the early morning of August 16. Liverpool faced Bournemouth in Anfield, and the two sides staged a turbulent and exciting offensive battle.

In this dramatic contest, Italian winger Federico Chiesa became the decisive figure in the game - he quickly made a contribution after coming on as a substitute, helping Liverpool beat their opponents 4-2 and scored all three points.

Some games seem to have decided, and some moments even make the most loyal fans start to shake their beliefs. But there are always some teams, such as Liverpool, who can always write miracles at critical moments. In the 82nd minute of the game, coach Slott unexpectedly replaced Florian Werz with Chiesa. This decision to substitution made many fans at the scene confused: Chiesa had been away from the field for a long time and was once deeply involved in transfer rumors. Even Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher in the commentary seat couldn't help but exclaim: "This is a very strange substitution, which is really surprising."

However, Slott had his own thoughts. Just 6 minutes later, this substitution received a miraculous effect. In a melee in the penalty area, Chiesa seized the opportunity to volley, the ball went straight to the dead corner of the goal, breaking Petrovic's ten fingers, and rewriting the score to 3-2! Although the technical move of this shooting was not flawless, this goal instantly ignited the entire Anfield and completely defeated the opponent's psychological defense.

Slott, who was standing on the sidelines, smiled. This is not the first time he has turned the situation around with the "substitute surprise".

Last season, the Dutch coach made a masterpiece of his thoughts many times. In the game against Nottingham Forest, Costas Zimikas and Jota made a substitute in the 65th and 66th minutes respectively. Just 22 seconds later, Jota assisted Jota to score to help the team equalize the score. In the key battle against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Xavi Elliott scored the winning goal in just 47 seconds after a substitute, becoming the hero of the game.

If Liverpool in the Klopp era is known for its fighting spirit of "never walking alone", then Slot is leading the team to another extreme - calm, efficient and accurate, like a precise victory machine.

Although Liverpool won 4-2 in this game, the process was definitely not smooth. Ekitic and Garkepo's goals once helped the home team to gain a 2-0 lead, but Bournemouth quickly equalized the score with Semenho's second score in the 76th minute. When Anfield fans thought the game would end in a draw, Chiesa stepped forward and broke the deadlock, and Salah then secured the victory in stoppage time.

Although the Reds scored three points with their better ability to seize opportunities, the game also exposed the potential for instability in the defense line. However, as a favorite to win the championship, the strong resilience and champion temperament shown by the team at critical moments are the key to their last laugh.

Under Slot's planning, Liverpool once again proved that no matter how difficult the situation is, they can always find a way to win. The journey of the new season has just begun, and the "Red Army" has sounded the clarion call to fight for the championship.