AFC Bournemouth’s official team sheet is in, and Liverpool have confirmed their starting XI for this Premier League round 5 clash at Vitality Stadium. Kick-off is at 14:00 BST on Sunday, 20 September 2026, and anyone still finalising their afternoon can check the match broadcast details before settling in. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola sends out a side with Alexander Isak leading the attack, flanked by Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo. Milos Kerkez starts at left-back against his former club, adding extra interest to an already significant fixture. The official team announcement confirms both managers have gone with their strongest available options.
Confirmed Lineups Alert: Team News from Vitality Stadium
With the team sheets exchanged, focus turns to how each manager has set up for this early kick-off on the south coast. Liverpool have named a settled back line built around Virgil van Dijk, while the front line carries genuine goal threat from three different angles. Bournemouth, for their part, stick with a familiar spine and look to use the pace of Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson to hurt Liverpool in transition. There are no surprises in terms of goalkeepers, with Alisson and Djordje Petrovic both retaining their places between the posts.
Liverpool XI Breakdown: Isak Leads Frontline with Wirtz and Kerkez
Iraola’s starting XI reads as follows, and it largely matches what had been floated in our pre-match lineup prediction earlier in the week.
Alisson (GK)
Ronald Araujo, Virgil van Dijk, Jérémy Jacquet, Milos Kerkez
Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai
Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo
Alexander Isak
Substitutes: Joe Gomez, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Víctor Muñoz, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Ryan Gravenberch, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha make up the bench. Supporters wanting a wider view of the squad options available to Iraola can check the first-team squad list for context on the names in reserve.
The shape in possession looks like a 4-2-3-1 that can quickly flex into something closer to a front three plus false nine, given how often Isak is expected to drop deep to link play. Mac Allister and Szoboszlai sit as a compact double pivot, screening the back four while also stepping forward to support the press once Bournemouth’s centre-backs are forced wide. That pressing trigger matters against a side comfortable playing out from the back, and Liverpool’s front four will look to cut off the easy pass into midfield first.
Defensively, Van Dijk and Araujo form the senior partnership at centre-back, with Jacquet completing his side of the four. Kerkez’s return to Vitality Stadium is the most eye-catching individual subplot. He knows this pitch well and is expected to push forward in the wide areas, offering an overlap for Barcola or Wirtz to cut inside. That balance between attacking width and defensive discipline will be tested repeatedly by Bournemouth’s own wing play, and how Kerkez manages that dual role could shape the opening half hour.
AFC Bournemouth XI Breakdown: Petrovic and Evanilson Start for Cherries
Bournemouth’s confirmed XI is as follows:
Djordje Petrovic (GK)
Adam Smith, James Hill, António Silva, Adrien Truffert
Tyler Adams, Alex Scott
Rayan, Ryan Christie, Marcus Tavernier
Evanilson
Substitutes: Lewis Cook, Julio Soler, David Brooks, Ben Gannon-Doak, Bafodé Diakité, Michele Di Gregorio, Juanlu Sánchez, Alex Tóth and Daniel Jebbison complete the matchday squad for the hosts.
The Cherries line up in a 4-2-3-1 that mirrors Liverpool’s own structure, with Adams and Scott sitting in front of the back four to control the centre of the pitch. That pairing gives Bournemouth a platform to spring quick transitions through Tavernier and Rayan on the flanks, both of whom like to run in behind rather than hold width and wait. Christie’s role just off Evanilson is worth watching closely, since he tends to drift into pockets between Liverpool’s midfield and defensive lines.
Evanilson leads the line as the focal point, and his movement across the back four will test how well Van Dijk and Araujo communicate under pressure. Petrovic’s distribution from the back is another factor, as Bournemouth are unlikely to simply go long and cede possession against a Liverpool midfield built to press high. Truffert’s overlapping runs on the left will also draw attention, particularly with Kerkez pushing forward on Liverpool’s opposite side, leaving space that both full-backs will need to manage carefully through the ninety minutes.
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Liverpool confirm official starting XI for Premier League clash vs Bournemouth
Liverpool confirm official starting XI for Premier League clash vs Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool TV channel, live stream and team news
AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool TV channel, live stream and team news