Liverpool will host Bournemouth in the Premier League opener on Friday night, aiming to kick-start the 2025/26 season with a bang.
The 2025/26 Premier League season kicks off after over ten weeks, and the reigning champions will get the new campaign underway at home. Liverpool are certainly the better team on paper, and they will be expected to grind out all three points vs Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night.
The Reds have an excellent record against Bournemouth in all competitions, and the home fans will be expecting a comfortable victory here. Liverpool have done well to improve their squad this summer, and the new players will look to make their mark in the Premier League.
The defending Premier League champions are coming into this game on the back of a defeat against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, and they will be desperate to bounce back strongly. Meanwhile, Palace showed that Liverpool can be vulnerable defensively, and it will be interesting to see if Bournemouth can expose their defensive frailties tomorrow.
Speaking of Bournemouth, the summer transfer window has ravaged them, and the departures may not be done yet amid Dango Ouattara’s links with Brentford. Meanwhile, the Cherries’ pre-season campaign mirrored most of their 2024/25 campaign, as they won two, lost two, and drew two games. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the upcoming game between Bournemouth and Liverpool.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Arne Slot will be without Joe Gomez, who is still recovering from his Achilles injury; he is expected to miss the first few weeks of the 2025/26 campaign. Meanwhile, Ryan Gravenberch is sidelined as well. The Dutchman saw red against Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2024/25 season, and he will serve his ban this week. On the other hand, Conor Bradley is still nursing an injury, and he is doubtful for this game.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Bournemouth, with Alisson Becker in goal. Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight at the back and help out in the final third. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside club captain Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister will add creativity and control to the side alongside Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian playmaker will add physicality and drive to the side after taking up a deeper role this season.
Florian Wirtz will reprise the no. 10 role, with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo on either side of him. They will look to create opportunities in the final third and open up the Bournemouth defence with their passing, vision, and flair. Finally, Hugo Ekitike will lead the line for Liverpool vs Bournemouth on Friday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola will be without Justin Kluivert, who misses out with a knock. Lewis Cook and Enes Unal have long-term knee injuries, and they are set to miss out as well. Ryan Christie and Luis Sinisterra are on their way back from injuries, but they might not be able to play a part here.
Bournemouth will set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Djordje Petrovic in goal. Adam Smith and Adrien Truffert will start as the full-backs, and they will look to keep things compact at the back and hit Liverpool on the break. Julian Araujo will start alongside Marcos Senesi at the heart of the defence. It will be interesting to see if they can keep the Liverpool attack quiet.
As for the midfield unit, David Brooks will start alongside Tyler Adams in the double pivot. They will look to keep things tight defensively and help create chances from deep. Philipp Billing will start in the attacking midfield role, and he will add creativity and drive to the side.
Marcus Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo will start on the flanks. They will look to hit Liverpool during transitions and create counter-attacking opportunities. Finally, Evanilson will lead the line for Bournemouth vs Liverpool at Anfield on Friday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith, Araujo, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Brooks; Semenyo, Billing, Tavernier; Evanilson
Key Stats
Liverpool have been winning at both half-time and full-time in 11 of their last 13 matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.
Liverpool have won 12 of their last 13 matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.
Liverpool have scored at least 2 goals in 15 of their last 16 matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.
Bournemouth have failed to score in the last 3 matches against Liverpool.
Player to Watch
Florian Wirtz
Embed from Getty Images
The German international was outstanding against Crystal Palace, and he helped set up Hugo Ekitike for the opening goal of the game. Wirtz’s ability to control the game in the final third and create opportunities with his vision and incisive passing could prove to be invaluable for Liverpool here.
Bournemouth will not take an adventurous approach, and Liverpool will find it difficult to open up their defensive unit. The former Bayer Leverkusen talisman could play a key role, and he is our key player to watch out for.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth
Both teams will be gunning for a good result here in the opening game of the 2025/26 Premier League season. This is likely to be a close contest, but Liverpool have more quality and depth in the attacking unit, and they should be able to grind out a narrow victory here.
Despite the injury problems, they have enough quality and depth on the side to get the job done. Both teams are likely to get on the score sheet, but Liverpool will come out on top vs Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Arne Slot and his charges.