Liverpool and Bournemouth kick off the 2025-26 Premier League campaign on Friday, and ahead of the action, we’ve got the latest team news and predicted lineups.
Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool kickstart their title defence at home to Bournemouth on Friday evening following an incredibly busy summer in the transfer market.
Arne Slot has added the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike to his squad. Reports suggest that the Reds aren’t done there either, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak heavily linked with a big-money move to Merseyside.
Liverpool head into the tie as clear favourites with football betting sites, priced at around 3/10 to prevail. The Cherries, meanwhile, are rated at 15/2 to come away with a surprise three points.
Ahead of the action, we at SportsCasting have the latest Liverpool vs Bournemouth team news and predicted lineups. Read on as we unveil the most probable starting XIs, along with each side’s injury concerns and suspensions for the clash.
Liverpool vs Bournemouth Team News and Predicted Lineups
Liverpool Team News
The Reds were without Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley for their Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace last Sunday, and while there is hope that the former may be involved for Bournemouth’s visit, no update was given on the latter, suggesting that he is ruled out.
Slot said in his pre-match press conference: “I have to make a decision on that [Gomez].
“I think he only trained twice now, missed quite a lot in pre-season. But if you looked at our bench against Palace, I think there were three players that were 20 years old or younger.
“So, there is a possibility that Joe might be on the bench but I have to look at the numbers and who we’re going to take.”
Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, misses out through suspension. This comes as a result of the Netherlands international being red-carded on the final day of last season.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup
Premier League opening day stats suggest Liverpool should come away from this one with a win or a draw, but given their lacklustre defensive display in the Community Shield defeat to Palace, defeat is entirely plausible here.
Slot is expected to make just one change from the lineup that was fielded at Wembley. Alexis Mac Allister has been tipped to partner Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield instead of Curtis Jones.
The rest of the lineup will likely remain as is. This means that summer signings Frimpong, Kerkez, Wirtz and Ekitike are in line to make their league debuts for the reigning champions.
It also means that Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo should retain their spots on the wings, while Alisson is due to start in goal, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk sitting in front.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Alisson (GK)
Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez
Szoboszlai, Mac Allister
Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo
Ekitike
Bournemouth Team News
As for the visitors, Enes Unal remains out due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, while Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert are also set to miss out through injury.
Andoni Iraola said: “Justin [Kluivert] hasn’t been training with us and won’t play.
“Ryan [Christie] has been training this week with us, which is positive. It’s too early for him to play as he hasn’t done any pre-season. He hasn’t done a lot of things for a lot of weeks, so it’s too early – but it’s good to have him back on the pitch with the group.”
Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra are also doubts due to their respective injury concerns.
Additionally, Dango Ouattara, who is reportedly set to join Brentford for a club record £42.5m fee, will likely miss out amid his impending transfer to the Gtech Community Stadium.
Bournemouth Predicted Lineup
Having lost Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi and Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer, Iraola is set to field a new-look back line for Friday evening’s opener at Anfield.
Djordje Petrovic, who has joined from Chelsea, should start in between the sticks, with Adam Smith, James Hill, Marcos Senesi and Adrien Truffert tipped to make up their back four.
Alex Scott and Tyler Adams will likely start as the midfield pairing.
Forming their attack, the Cherries are expected to field Marcus Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo on the wings, with David Brooks playing centrally behind Brazilian forward Evanilson.
Bournemouth Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Petrovic (GK)
Smith (C), Hill, Senesi, Truffert
Scott, Adams
Tavernier, Brooks, Semenyo
Evanilson
