Supporters were left furious with Sky Sports as the broadcaster unveiled two brand-new features during the opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Liverpool kicked off the campaign with a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield, a night filled with emotion as tributes were paid to the late Diogo Jota.
Yet much of the pre-match focus online centred around Sky’s fresh broadcast changes rather than the football itself.
The first major addition saw live Fantasy Premier League statistics displayed in the studio, aimed at helping players of the hugely popular online game make last-minute tweaks to their teams.
Supporters were left furious with Sky Sports as the broadcaster unveiled two brand-new features during the opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League season
|GETTY
The second big change came with the programme’s brand-new theme song - a specially written track by Kasabian titled G.O.A.T.
Both innovations were met with a wave of negativity on social media.
Fans were unimpressed with the FPL focus, with one viewer branding it “woke nonsense.”
Another added bluntly: “Game’s gone.”
A third vented: “Hate how mainstream FPL is.”
The new music also came in for heavy criticism, with supporters taking aim at Sky for abandoning its traditional intro tunes.
“Dreadful title music. The f**k is that?” blasted one fan.
Another questioned: “Why did Sky change their music?”
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
Sky Sports viewers aren't impressed with Kasabian's new tune after it debuted during the broadcaster's Premier League coverage on Friday night
|GETTY
A third unimpressed viewer simply compared the song to “Sesame Street.”
Despite the backlash, the match itself provided plenty of drama.
Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring for Liverpool before the evening then took a darker turn when play was halted around the half-hour mark following an allegation of racist abuse directed at Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
Liverpool went 2-0 up after half time when Cody Gakpo struck four minutes after the restart.
Yet a brace from Semenyo drew Bournemouth level, with the Cherries daring to dream.
In the end, however, Liverpool were too strong.
Federico Chiesa, who has struggled for regular game time at Anfield following his arrival from Juventus last year, bagged with two minutes left on the clock.
And Mohamed Salah made the result safe in stoppage time, with the Egypt international continuing to shine as he approaches the twilight years of his career.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool's fourth and final goal in their 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Friday night
|PA
Liverpool are next in action against Newcastle on August 25 (8pm).
As for Bournemouth, their next match is against Wolves on Saturday (3pm).