Christian Benteke nets home debut goal as Liverpool sink Bournemouth

The teams’ first ever league meeting was settled by £32.5 million (HK$392.7 million) striker Benteke’s 26th-minute strike in front of the Kop, but Bournemouth felt that in attempting to play the ball before it reached his team-mate, Philippe Coutinho had been offside.

Having previously won 1-0 at Stoke City in their opening game, Brendan Rodgers’s Liverpool moved level on points with Manchester City, Leicester City and Manchester United at the top of the two-game table.

“Thankfully the goal counted and we’re happy to get the win,” said Rodgers.

“I’m pleased we’ve got two wins, six points and two clean sheets. The defensive organisation has been good. There’s a lot of players coming into the club and it’ll take them a wee bit of time to bed in.”

As well as Benteke, who later hit the crossbar, Rodgers also gave home debuts to Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, Joe Gomez and substitute Roberto Firmino, but lost new captain Jordan Henderson to a foot injury early in the second half.

Bournemouth have lost both of their first games, but manager Eddie Howe will have been heartened by the pluck and enterprise shown by his side, who also had a goal by captain Tommy Elphick disallowed.

“It is hugely frustrating for us,” said Howe. “We were in the game and the big decisions have gone against us.