The 2025–26 Premier League season officially kicks off on Friday evening as reigning champions Liverpool begin their title defence at home against Bournemouth at a packed Anfield stadium.
Arne Slot’s side will be eager to get off to a winning start and redeem themselves after an underwhelming performance in last weekend’s Community Shield, where they lost to Crystal Palace on penalties. The disjointed defensive display in that season curtain-raiser will be a key area of focus for the manager.
The Anfield crowd will get to see a host of new summer signings make their official, competitive debuts for the club. Blockbuster arrivals Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez are all expected to be named in the starting lineup after a busy summer of spending for the Reds.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, face a monumental task. They have never won a competitive match at Anfield and are coming into the new season with a defence that has been “gutted” over the summer, having sold several key players—including Milos Kerkez, who will be lining up against them tonight. They will also be without key attackers Enes Ünal and Justin Kluivert due to injury.
Predicted Lineups
- Liverpool Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitiké.
- Bournemouth Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrović; Araujo, Diakité, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson.
Score Prediction
Despite Liverpool’s own defensive concerns, which were exposed in pre-season, the sheer difference in attacking quality between the two sides should be overwhelming. Bournemouth are severely weakened by injuries and their summer sales. With Liverpool’s formidable new-look attack, featuring the likes of Wirtz and Ekitike, eager to impress on their official Anfield debuts, a comfortable home win is the only logical outcome.
Prediction: Liverpool 3–0 Bournemouth