Virgin Media issued a statement following a major technical problem that affected millions of viewers during the first half of the Liverpool vs. Bournemouth match.
The Premier League season opener was being broadcast live from Anfield by Sky Sports.
However, towards the end of the first half, Virgin Media customers started reporting serious graphical issues, with their screens becoming pixelated.
These problems continued throughout the remainder of the half, including when Hugo Ekitike scored his first Premier League goal to put Liverpool ahead.
Virgin Media initially acknowledged an issue impacting Sky Sports but later confirmed that the disruption was affecting their entire TV service.
Replying to a Twitter user, the company said: “We’re aware of an issue affecting TV at the moment. Sorry for any inconvenience caused and we’ll aim to resolve this as soon as possible.”
Other channels like BBC and ITV were also impacted on Virgin’s platform.
Sky Sports has not yet commented on the ongoing technical difficulties, which persisted into the second half.
Those viewers who were able to watch saw Ekitike give Liverpool a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute. The French forward was set up by Alexis Mac Allister and calmly finished past Bournemouth’s goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Up to that point, the first half had been fairly open, with Marcus Tavernier having a half-chance that was comfortably saved by Alisson just two minutes before Liverpool scored.
Despite this, Liverpool were the stronger team and deserved to be ahead at halftime.
Cody Gakpo extended the lead to 2-0 on 48 minutes with a well-executed solo effort.
Bournemouth manager Arne Slot handed debuts to all four of his new outfield signings, including Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez. Speaking before the game to Sky Sports, Slot mentioned he still hopes to bring in at least one more player, along with completing the signing of 18-year-old Italian defender Giovanni Leoni.
“I see Hugo mainly as a number nine,” he said. “He can also play from the left or alongside another striker. We need at least one more attacker.”
Liverpool have been linked with a transfer for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. Meanwhile, Newcastle are reportedly targeting two players to replace Isak.
Craig Hope of the Daily Mail reports that Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe favors PSG’s Goncalo Ramos as a preferred signing, and the club is expected to progress with a move for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa after Brentford agreed on a £37 million deal to sign Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth.
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