It has been a curious summer with some real highs, and the lowest of lows, but as of this weekend, football is back.
The Reds will play a home match in front of a capacity crowd as the previous season’s champions for the first time since 1990 on Friday.
Here is absolutely everything you need to know ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season’s inaugural match.
Florian Wirtz
Liverpool v Athletic Club Bilbao - Pre-Season Friendly | Carl Recine/GettyImages
How to watch Liverpool versus AFC Bournemouth on the TV
-Kick-off: Friday 15th August 2025, 20:00 BST (15:00 EST)
-Location: Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
-TV channels: USA Network (USA), Sky Sports (UK), DAZN (Canada)
Liverpool team news
Ryan Gravenberch will miss the season opener due to the red card he picked up on the final day of the season. Outside of any last minute injuries, Liverpool’s only absentee will be Gravenberch.
Bournemouth team news
Bournemouth have a number of injury doubts, Justin Kluivert (calf), Ryan Christie, and Luis Sinisterra, will all be hoping to make Friday’s game. Lewis Cook is suspended, and Enes Unal is a long term injury absentee.
Cody Gakpo, Lewis Cook
AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool FC - Premier League | Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
Predicted Liverpool versus Bournemouth lineups
Liverpool: Alisson Becker, Milos Kerkez, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Jeremie Frimpong, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Mo Salah, Hugo Ekitike.
AFC Bournemouth: Dorde Petrovic, Adrien Truffert, Marcos Senesi, Bafode Diakite, Julian Araujo, Ryan Christie, Tyler Adams, Antoine Semenyo, Marcus Tavenier, David Brooks, Evanilson.
Liverpool versus AFC Bournemouth prediction
The start of a new campaign brings a fresh air of optimism for every team.
Liverpool will be keen to build on last season’s Premier League victory with a win on the opening day.
The highlight for many will be seeing some of the new players in action, particularly Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, and for the first time in a competitive setting.
Milos Kerkez
Liverpool v Athletic Club Bilbao - Pre-Season Friendly | Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
Cherries fans will doubtlessly be keen to see how the team fairs without a number of big players, namely Ilya Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, and Milos Kerkez, all key players who were sold in the summer.
Friday will also likely see debuts for a number of players including goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic.
The Reds will likely be riding a wave of emotion as tributes are paid to Diogo Jota before Friday’s match that will surely carry an emotional weight.
The key to winning this match will be how quickly Liverpool’s new signings click, against a Bournemouth team who are likely to concede chances.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 AFC Bournemouth