In the curtain-raising game of the 2025/26 Premier League season, holders Liverpool welcome last season’s surprise package, AFC Bournemouth, in an emotional night at Anfield.
LIV vs BOU Match Details
Date: Sunday, 15 August 2025 / Monday, 16 August 2025
Time: 20:00 (BST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
LIV vs BOU Match Preview
Liverpool made their doubters wrong after winning the Premier League in the first season, right after their legendary coach Jurgen Klopp left the club. While Arne Slot’s appointment was promising, very few predicted the team to be this vigilant in sweeping away the title with 84 points from 38 games, finishing 10 points clear of second-place Arsenal and 13 points ahead of Manchester City, whose four-year dominance of the league was ended. Now, the Reds are hoping to retain their sensational title victory after uncharacteristically spending a lot of money to strengthen their squad, including breaking the British transfer record to bring in Bayer Leverkusen and Germany’s star Florian Wirtz. However, the team was struck with devastating news even before the preseason for the 2025-26 campaign started, as the club’s beloved forward Diogo Jota lost his life tragically in a car accident. Slot’s side rode with that grief of losing not just a great player and fan favourite, but a humble human being, as they picked up four wins out of five pre-season friendlies before losing in the Community Shield on penalties to FA Cup holders Crystal Palace after it ended 2-2. While losing the first silverware of the season will hurt, the Reds will still have enough motivation to begin their title defence in the new Premier League campaign on a high, with a far more exciting squad this time, as they play the first game in the competition without the Portuguese in an emotional night at Anfield on Friday against AFC Bournemouth.
The Cherries also had a memorable outing of their own last time, as they recorded their best season in the Premier League by finishing ninth in the table with a club record-high 56 points under the guidance of Andoni Iraola. At one point, the side was also gunning for European places but ended nine points away from their preferred destination, which would have been a cherry on top of the cake. Nevertheless, it was a season to admire and despite losing some key stars, especially in their defence, one of them being Milos Kerkez, who moved to Liverpool, against whom they open the 2025/26 Premier League season, Bournemouth are willing to excite again. Despite beginning with three consecutive preseason friendly victories in July, Iraola's team faced challenges in the final four preparatory matches leading up to the season, including a 4-1 defeat against Manchester United. Hence, facing the Red Devils’ rivals and Premier League champions, who have not lost the opening game of a season since 2012/13, in the league opener without any momentum will be far more challenging. Bournemouth have never won this fixture at Anfield, but carry a seven-game unbeaten run in opening-day games, which might motivate them. However, the side has also lost their last six away trips in the league, managing to score only twice in that period, an unwanted record to overcome.
LIV vs BOU Dream11 Team News
Liverpool will field their new signings from the get-go, with Wirtz taking the headlines alongside his Leverkusen mate Jeremie Frimpong, who arrived to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold and scored on his competitive debut in the Community Shield. Kerkez will face his former side by filling up the opposite flank, while another lucrative new arrival, Hugo Ekitike, who scored within four minutes of his debut last Sunday, will lead the line again. However, the Reds are without midfield lynchpin Ryan Gravenberch after he was sent off in the final Premier League game of last season. Defenders Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are also unavailable due to injuries.
Bournemouth have a huge shakeup of their defence with Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Kerkez all departing this summer, but will field the new stars brought in to replace them, including goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea and Adrien Truffert from Rennes at left-back. Another new signing in the form of centre-back Bafode Diakite from Lille could also feature in the backline. The side was happy to tie up their exciting winger, Antoine Semenyo, to a long-term contract and he hopes to be a headache for defences again.
LIV vs BOU Predicted Lineups
Liverpool (LIV)
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Bournemouth (BOU)
Petrovic; Araujo, Senesi, Hill, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson
LIV vs BOU Dream11 Match Prediction
In an emotionally heavy evening at Anfield, we expect Liverpool to bounce back from their Community Shield defeat with a win against Bournemouth, who need time to reclaim their solidity with a new backline in place. The Reds’ exciting new-look attack should get the job done in the league opener, even though their shaky defence would not guarantee a clean sheet. We predict a 3-1 win for Slot’s men.
LIV vs BOU Dream11 Team Top picks
Captain Pick: Mo Salah
Vice-captain Picks: Florian Wirtz
Our top pick for the LIV vs BOU Dream11 Team is Mohamed Salah, who won the Golden Boot last season with an emphatic 29 goals and added an outstanding 18 assists to his name in the league.
LIV vs BOU Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Petroivic (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Frimpong (Cr - 8.5), Van Dijk (Cr - 8.5), Senesi (Cr - 7.5)
MID: Semenyo (Cr - 8.5), Wirtz (Cr - 8), Gakpo (Cr - 8), Szoboszlai(Cr - 9)
FW: Salah (Cr - 9), Ekitike (Cr - 8.5), Ouattara (Cr - 8.5)
Vice-captain: Florian Wirtz
Captain: Mo Salah
