Andoni Iraola returns to Bournemouth for the first time, as Liverpool aim to go into the international break on the back of a Premier League win.
Bournemouth vs. Liverpool
Premier League (5) | Vitality Stadium
Sunday, September 20, 2026 | 2pm (BST)
Liverpool got back on track on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, and they will hope to take the resultant confidence boost into Sunday’s clash with Bournemouth.
Andoni Iraola returns to Bournemouth
File photo dated 10-02-2024 of Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola who feels the fifth-round FA Cup clash against Leicester could be the ideal morale-boosting distraction for a side still looking for their first Premier League win of 2024. Issue date: Monday February 26, 2024.
File photo dated 10-02-2024 of Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola who feels the fifth-round FA Cup clash against Leicester could be the ideal morale-boosting distraction for a side still looking for their first Premier League win of 2024. Issue date: Monday February 26, 2024.
Iraola took charge of 127 matches during his three years on the south coast and was responsible for guiding Bournemouth to their highest-ever league finish.
As a result, he is held in high esteem by supporters and he should receive a warm welcome at Dean Court.
Any pleasantries will wait until full time, though, with Iraola declaring: “We need to go there and beat them and be as ruthless as possible and leave all the talks for after the game.”
No new injury worries
Since Liverpool’s win over Tottenham, the Reds have trained without any new injuries cropping up among the squad.
It means Iraola has just the four long-term absentees missing from his team and no suspensions with which to deal.
Hopefully, we will see Giovanni Leoni and Federico Chiesa train during the extended international break, but don’t expect to see Conor Bradley or Hugo Ekitike for a few months yet.
Liverpool Predicted XI
Choose your starting eleven.
Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak all played zero minutes in the Carabao Cup, so they will all come back in to face Bournemouth.
Victor Munoz was also rested in the week and will likely start on the right, leaving Bradley Barcola or Cody Gakpo to play on the left flank.
Alexis Mac Allister should start alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield, though there is an argument to say Trey Nyoni should be rewarded with a Premier League opportunity.
Predicted LFC XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak
Bournemouth win in San Sebastian
Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert celebrates with Marcus Tavernier, center, after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Real Sociedad and AFC Bournemouth in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert celebrates with Marcus Tavernier, center, after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Real Sociedad and AFC Bournemouth in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Bournemouth have begun life brightly under Marco Rose, but the results haven’t quite equated to their performances.
Since losing at Man City on the opening day, they have drawn three times in the league while beating Lincoln in the Carabao Cup and, on Thursday, winning 2-1 away against Real Sociedad.
It was a historic occasion in San Sebastian as the Cherries beat La Real in their first-ever European fixture, thanks to first-half goals from Justin Kluivert and Rayan.
Bournemouth team news
Bournemouth manager Marco Rose at the fian l whistle after the Carabao Cup third round match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth. Picture date: Tuesday September 8, 2026.
Bournemouth manager Marco Rose at the fian l whistle after the Carabao Cup third round match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth. Picture date: Tuesday September 8, 2026.
Rose has made very few changes this season, but that will surely change this weekend after a Thursday night fixture in the Basque Country.
For the Europa League fixture, the manager kept his side unchanged from last weekend’s 2-2 with Brentford.
Junior Kroupi is still out injured for Bournemouth, as is right-back Julian Araujo. Attacker Amine Adli and Serbian centre-back Veljko Milosavljevic are also out with lower leg and knee injuries, respectively.
Liverpool average 3 goals per game vs. Bournemouth
In the 18 league matches that Bournemouth and Liverpool have contested since the Cherries’ first promotion in 2015, the Reds have averaged three goals per game.
Eleven goals were scored in the two league fixtures between the teams last season, and 34 goals have been scored in the last eight league meetings, with the Reds netting 27 times.
In fact, the Reds have scored at least three times in five of their last nine visits to Bournemouth and, in all competitions, Liverpool have scored at least twice in 17 of the last 18 encounters.
Who is the referee for Bournemouth vs. Liverpool?
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 17, 2024: Referee Michael Oliver during the FA Premier League match between Brentford FC and Liverpool FC at the Brentford Community Stadium. Liverpool won 4-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 17, 2024: Referee Michael Oliver during the FA Premier League match between Brentford FC and Liverpool FC at the Brentford Community Stadium. Liverpool won 4-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
After taking charge of last weekend’s Manchester derby, Michael Oliver will be the referee for Bournemouth vs. Liverpool.
Oliver will be assisted by Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring on the touchlines, with Simon Hooper acting as fourth official.
In the VAR booth will be video assistant referee Craig Pawson. He will receive assistance from Lee Betts.
First outing in the away kit
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's Lewis Koumas during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's Lewis Koumas during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool are to wear their new, white away kit for the first time against Bournemouth – and it’s a beauty!
OK, so they did wear it in New York over the summer, for a friendly against Wrexham, but this will be the first time it gets a real airing.
Hopefully, we can make some memories as fond as the ones the 1980s-style strip harks back to!
Follow the match with TIA
Bournemouth vs. Liverpool is live on Sky Sports Main Event with kick-off at 2pm (BST).
TIA’s matchday live blog will be up and running from 1.15pm, with Harry McMullen tasked with keeping you entertained and up to date.
Come on you Reds!