Liverpool and Bournemouth kick-off the new Premier League season at Anfield on Friday night, live on Sky Sports Main Event at 8pm.
The Reds will be looking to defend the crown they won in dominant fashion last season, while the Cherries will be hoping to conjure up an opening day upset on Merseyside.
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Liverpool vs Bournemouth Prediction & Tips
Liverpool To Win & Both Teams To Score @ 6/4 with Sky Bet
Liverpool have won 12 of their last 13 meetings with Bournemouth and come into this clash as the league’s top scorers from last season. They’ve strengthened their forward line further with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, both of whom registered goal involvements against Crystal Palace. Bournemouth’s reshaped defence faces a long night ahead, but their attacking unit has enough firepower to hurt the hosts on the counter.
Hugo Ekitike To Score @ 11/10 with Coral
Liverpool’s new £79m striker looked sharp in the Community Shield and took all of four minutes to open his Reds account. The Frenchman, who scored 22 goals for Frankfurt last season, will now be looking to fire in front of the Anfield faithful.
Bet Builder: Florian Wirtz & Antoine Semenyo Booked @ 14/1 with bet365
Wirtz was booked at Wembley and has three yellows in his last four games, while Antoine Semenyo was a frequent visitor to the referee’s black book last term with nine league yellows. Bet365’s ‘Sub On Play On’ feature means your bet will play on if either player is substituted.
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Liverpool vs Bournemouth Form & Team Setup
Liverpool are winless in five competitive matches since sealing the title and failed to win any of their final four pre-season games. Their defence looked uncharacteristically vulnerable, managing just one clean sheet in nine outings – and that came against Leicester. The penalty loss to Crystal Palace will have given Arne Slot plenty to think about, but expect a response at Anfield, where they are unbeaten since September.
Ryan Gravenberch is suspended, Joe Gomez is out injured, and Conor Bradley remains a doubt. Jeremie Frimpong and former Bournemouth player Milos Kerkez are set to start in defence again, while Mo Salah is expected to lead a dangerous attacking quartet featuring Wirtz, Ekitike, and Cody Gakpo.
Bournemouth Form & Team Setup
Bournemouth enjoyed a fantastic 2024-25 season, securing 9th spot, a club record 56 points, and they scored 58 goals. The Cherries, who failed to win their final four pre-season games, have the toughest of opening day tests but can draw on a seven game unbeaten run when it comes to season-openers. They did, however, have their defence ripped apart this summer with Arrizabalaga, Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi, and Kerkez all departing.
Injuries to Justin Kluivert, Ryan Christie, Enes Unal, and Lewis Cook (suspended) could stretch their depth, but new signing Djordje Petrovic is set to start in goal, while Evanilson and Semenyo will provide bite in attack.
Head-to-Head Battles and What the Stats Reveal
Look away, Bournemouth fans – this fixture has been brutal. The Cherries have lost five on the bounce and 12 of the last 13 against Liverpool, with their only win coming at home in March 2023.
Bournemouth have claimed just 1 point from 24 available away to the Reds in the Premier League, and infamously lost 9–0 at Anfield in August 2022, which ended Scott Parker’s tenure.
Liverpool have shut them out in three straight meetings (2–0, 3–0, 4–0), with Both Teams To Score (No) landing in 10 of the last 12.
Mo Salah bagged a brace in the last clash in February (2-0) and boasts 11 goals in 12 league games against the south coast side.
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Key Battles on the Pitch
Mo Salah vs Julian Araujo
Salah has a stunning record against Bournemouth but did notably struggle against Palace. Araujo is Bournemouth’s only remaining defender from last term and will have the job of keeping Salah quiet on Friday.
Evanilson vs Virgil van Dijk
Evanilson enjoyed a respectable opening campaign, hitting double-figures for goals. A lone visiting striker at Anfield always has an immense task, but he will draw confidence from Virgil van Dijk’s rusty display against Palace.
Curtis Jones vs Tyler Adams
Tyler Adams must disrupt Liverpool’s midfield and stop Curtis Jones, who didn’t misplace a single one of his 53 passes against Palace.