Liverpool vs Bournemouth – Prediction, Betting, Team News, and Lineups

After the final whistle in the FA Community Shield final last week, it is premiership football here again this Friday night, as the champions, Liverpool, take on Bournemouth at Anfield, in the first fixture of the 2025/26 season.

Arne Slot will be determined to recover the defeat in the Community Shield game to Crystal Palace, whereas Andoni Iraola will focus on the excellent performance of his team in the previous season, the ninth attitude.

Both teams had their defensive problems as well as new signings this season in the summer and this match is going to be entertaining, defensive play and scoring chances.

Match Preview

Liverpool marshal up to the current season as the defending champions following another impressive 2024/25 season where it won the Premier League championship to win the top place the 20th time. But their campaign got off to a sour note last weekend, losing to Crystal Palace on penalties in the Community Shield despite Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong scoring their first-ever goals.

Record signing Florian Wirtz has added strength to the team led by Arne Slot as he came up with 10 goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga during the previous season. The German playmaker will feature his first competitive match of the premier league at Anfield together with other summer additions.

Bournemouth, in its turn are recovering after its most successful-ever top-flight season, a period that made Iraola reduce his defense by losing Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Even the new signing Adrien Truffert and another Djordje Petrovic will have to adjust swiftly, particularly against one of the most threatening attacks in the whole league.

Stats

Liverpool have won 11 of their last 12 Premier League meetings with Bournemouth.
Bournemouth have never won at Anfield in the Premier League, losing 7 times and drawing once.
Since 2012, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League opening-day matches (W9 D3).
Bournemouth on the other hand are unbeaten in their last seven opening-day league fixtures (W3 D4).

Team News

Liverpool:

Ryan Gravenberch will also be unavailable because of suspension. Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are injured and Alexis Mac Allister is fit to play. Indeed most of the new signings Wirtz, Ekitike, Frimpong and Kerkez will all play in the premier league.

Predicted XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Bournemouth

Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie are out injured but Luis Sinisterra and Enes Unal are still recovering. The only doubt is Justin Kluivert but he can come off the bench. There will be new goalkeeper, Petrovic, and left-back, Truffert.

Predicted XI: Petrovic; Araujo, Senesi, Hill, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson.

Key Battles

Mohamed Salah vs Marcos Senesi – Liverpool’s dangerman will look to exploit any defensive weaknesses in Bournemouth’s fresh backline.
Florian Wirtz’s creativity – Can the German playmaker unlock Bournemouth’s defensive block?
Antoine Semenyo’s pace – A key outlet for Bournemouth on the counter-attack.

Form Guide

Liverpool :

Bournemouth:

Prediction

Liverpool will be hot favourites thanks to the strength of their attacking depth, the home advantage and also the dominance of recent encounters. The high pressing that Bournemouth adopt can put them in dangerous situations, although they have a vulnerable defence that might not be able to handle Salah, Wirtz and Ekitike.

Betting Tip:

Liverpool to win & Over 2.5 goals ✅
Mohamed Salah to score anytime ✅

Match Details

Fixture: Liverpool vs AFC Bournemouth
Date: Friday, 15 August 2025
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Venue: Anfield
Where to Watch (UK): Sky Sports Main Event