Liverpool kickstart the 2025/26 Premier League season with an Anfield showdown against Bournemouth on August 15.
Arne Slot's side are seeking to defend their title in the coming months, but they suffered a slip-up last weekend at Wembley, as Crystal Palace snatched the Community Shield via a penalty-shootout win.
Slot has invested heavily in new faces over the summer, including a Premier League record-breaking move for Florian Wirtz, alongside a host of new arrivals on Merseyside.
Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike have all arrived and Slot is still pushing to sign Alexander Isak before the September 1 transfer deadline.
Bournemouth's summer has seen two key exits, with three of their first-choice defence moving on, including Kerez to Liverpool plus Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.
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Liverpool vs. Bournemouth lineups: Starting XI, team news, injuries
Slot offered a glimpse into his plans for the season ahead with his starting XI against Palace at Wembley, but he will be forced into making at least one decision.
Ryan Gravenberch, who missed the Community Shield game following the birth of his child, is suspended for the Premier League opener following a red card on the final day of last season. Conor Bradley has a muscle injury and is not available.
Alexis Mac Allister should come into the starting XI, while Milos Kerkez is on course to start against his old team, with Andy Robertson set for the bench. Joe Gomez is back among the substitutes after a long time out with an Achilles issue.
Florian Wirtz set up Hugo Ekitike for the opening goal at Wembley and the pair make their Premier League debuts here today.
Liverpool starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Alisson (GK) — Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez — Mac Allister, Szoboszlai — Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo — Ekitike.
Injured: Gomez (Achilles, doubt), Bradley (muscle).
Suspended: Gravenberch (red card).
Summer departures mean major changes in Andoni Iraola's back line with Adrien Truffert and Bafode Diakite on course for their Premier League bows at Anfield.
Enes Unal and Lewis Cook remain out as long-term injury absentees, with Luis Sinisterra, Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert all still a few weeks away from a comeback.
Dango Outatarra is available for selection, but with a move to Brentford reportedly close to completion, he has been left out of the squad.
Bouremouth starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Petrovic (GK) — Smith, Senesi, Diakite, Truffert — Adams, Tavernier, Scott — Semenyo, Evanilson, Brooks.
Injured: Unal (ACL), Cook (knee), Sinisterra (thigh), Christie (groin), Kluivert (calf).
Suspended: None.
Liverpool vs. Bournemouth match details
- Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
- Location: Anfield, Liverpool
- Competition: Premier League
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- VAR: Michael Oliver
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