The 2025-26 Premier League season kicks off with a highly anticipated clash at Anfield as defending champions Liverpool host Bournemouth on Friday, 15 August 2025.
Liverpool, under the stewardship of Arne Slot, aim to launch their title defense with a statement victory, buoyed by their formidable home record and recent signings.
Bournemouth, led by Andoni Iraola, arrive with ambitions of upsetting the odds, building on their resilient away form from the previous season.
With both teams coming off mixed pre-season results, this opening fixture promises an intriguing blend of tactical battles and individual brilliance, setting the tone for the campaign ahead.
Prediction
Liverpool enter this match as heavy favorites, driven by their dominant historical record against Bournemouth and the attacking prowess of their revamped squad.
Despite a Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace, where a late equalizer and penalty shootout exposed defensive vulnerabilities, Liverpool’s pre-season showcased their offensive strength, with new signings like Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike already contributing goals.
Bournemouth, while spirited, struggled in pre-season, managing a win against Everton but suffering heavy defeats to Manchester United and West Ham.
Their ability to frustrate bigger sides with high pressing could pose challenges, but Liverpool’s depth and home advantage should prove decisive.
Expect a controlled performance from the Reds, likely resulting in a 3-0 victory, with their defense holding firm against Bournemouth’s counter-attacking threats.
Head-to-head
Liverpool have historically overwhelmed Bournemouth, particularly at Anfield, where the Cherries have managed just one point from eight Premier League visits, conceding 23 goals across those matches.
In their last five encounters, Liverpool secured victories in each, including a 3-0 win at Anfield in September 2024 and a 4-0 triumph at the Vitality Stadium in January 2024.
Bournemouth’s sole victory in recent times came in March 2023, a 1-0 upset, but their overall record against Liverpool remains dismal, with the Reds winning 17 of 22 historical meetings across all competitions, alongside three draws and two Bournemouth wins.
The average goals per game in these matchups is 4.2, suggesting a high-scoring affair is likely. Mohamed Salah, with nine goals in nine games against Bournemouth, remains a persistent threat.
Possible lineups
Liverpool’s lineup is expected to reflect Arne Slot’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, with new additions seamlessly integrated. Alisson Becker is likely to start in goal. The backline should feature Jeremie Frimpong at right-back, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk at center-back, and Milos Kerkez at left-back.
In midfield, Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister are set to provide control and creativity, supporting an attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, and Cody Gakpo behind striker Hugo Ekitike.
Bournemouth, also favoring a 4-2-3-1, are expected to start Djordje Petrović in goal, with a defense of Julian Araujo, Chris Mepham, Marcos Senesi, and Adrien Truffert.
The midfield pivot of Philip Billing and Valentin Soler will aim to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm, while Antoine Semenyo, Evanilson, and David Brooks support striker Enes Unal.
Betting tips
Given Liverpool’s dominance and Bournemouth’s struggles at Anfield, betting on a Liverpool win offers strong value at odds of 1.30. The Reds’ attacking output, combined with Bournemouth’s defensive lapses in pre-season, makes over 2.5 goals a compelling choice at 1.40.
Considering Liverpool’s clean sheet record in three of the last five head-to-heads, a wager on both teams not to score at 2.00 could be prudent. Mohamed Salah’s exceptional record against Bournemouth makes him a prime candidate to score anytime at 2.20.
For those seeking higher returns, a correct score bet on Liverpool winning 3-0 at 6.00 aligns with predictive models and recent trends.