Liverpool vs. Bournemouth: Shocking Lineup Surprises Revealed for Premier League Opener!

Friday night lights in England get a turbocharged jolt as the Premier League tears into its 2025-26 campaign with Liverpool welcoming Bournemouth to the iconic Anfield turf. Both squads have shaken off the dust of preseason, itching to stamp their mark on what promises to be another electrifying chapter in one of Europe’s premier football showcases. Liverpool, still riding the high of clinching only their second-ever Premier League title, aren’t resting on their laurels. With Arne Slot steering the ship into his sophomore season and a jaw-dropping $300 million splurged on fresh talent like Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Jeremie Frimpong, the Reds are gunning to keep that trophy buzz alive. On the flip side, Bournemouth faces steep hills to climb after a solid ninth-place finish last year. Coach Andoni Iraola’s squad has felt the sting of major exits—big-money moves involving Ilya Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, and the bittersweet return of Milos Kerkez now donning Liverpool red. It’s a season opener packed with narrative, grit, and raw ambition on display. Fancy a deeper dive? LEARN MORE .

The Premier League kicks off its 2025-26 season on Friday when Liverpool host Bournemouth at Anfield. With preseason behind them, both sides are eager to set the tone for the campaign, as one of Europe’s top leagues begins a new chapter.

Liverpool enter the season fresh off winning just the second Premier League title in club history. Under manager Arne Slot, now in his second year, the Reds continue to aim high. This summer, the club spent over $300 million in the transfer market, securing marquee additions such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Jeremie Frimpong.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, face a challenging campaign after finishing ninth last season under Andoni Iraola. The Spanish coach has seen his squad depleted by major departures, including Ilya Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain (€66 million), Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid (€62.5 million), and Milos Kerkez (€47 million)—the latter now set to return to Anfield, this time as a Liverpool player.

Premier League to honor Diogo Jota in Matchday 1

The tragic passing of Diogo Jota, along with his brother Andre, has deeply saddened the football world. The Portuguese forward made a lasting impact during his time with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool, and the Premier League will pay tribute on opening weekend.

Before every Matchday 1 fixture, a minute’s silence will be observed. Players will also wear black armbands in Jota’s memory, with stadium screens displaying tributes—similar to the scenes at the Community Shield final between Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

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Projected lineups for Liverpool and Bournemouth

Liverpool’s projected lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson Becker; Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil Van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Florian Wrtz, Cody Gakpo; Hugo Ekitike.
Head coach: Arne Slot.

Bournemouth’s projected lineup (4-2-3-1): Dorde Petrovic; Julian Araujo, James Hill, Marcos Senesi, Adrien Truffert; Alex Scott, Tyler Adams; David Brooks, Marcus Tavernier, Antoine Semenyo; Evanilson.
Head coach: Andoni Iraola.