Liverpool vs Bournemouth: Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds | OneFootball

The reigning champions get the new Premier League season underway

Liverpool host Bournemouth at Anfield to kick-off the 2025-26 Premier League season.

To do so, they’ll have to overcome a Bournemouth side that - despite now piecing together a new-look backline - managed to pull off a few upsets against the top teams last season.

No matter the result, this first match of the new campaign will be expected to provide its fair share of goals. Liverpool put nine past the Cherries a few years ago, and the last four league meetings between the two sides have amassed 13 goals.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Liverpool vs Bournemouth is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Friday, August 15, 2025.

The match will take place at Anfield.

Where to watch Liverpool vs Bournemouth

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage is set to begin from 6.30pm BST ahead of the 8pm kick-off.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog!

Liverpool vs Bournemouth team news

The likes of Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez - set to face his former club- will all be expected to make their Premier League debuts for Liverpool after starting at Wembley in the Community Shield.

One definite absentee for the Reds is Ryan Gravenberch, who missed Sunday’s match due to the birth of his child and is suspended for one league match following his red card at the end of last season.

Instead, Curtis Jones could partner Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield behind Wirtz as he did in the Community Shield, unless Alex Mac Allister is deemed fit to start following his 20-minute cameo last weekend.

Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah should then line up either side of Ekitike in an unchanged front three, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk the central defensive pairing charged with protecting goalkeeper Alisson. Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are expected to remain out as they work their way back from injuries, but Liverpool are thought to have a clean bill of health otherwise.

Familiar face: Milos Kerkez

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Bournemouth will hope to have completed their signing of Lille defender Bafode Diakite in time for Friday’s season-opener, having finalised the sale of Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain this week. Marcos Senesi should be the Cherries’ other centre-back, following the departure of Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid, while the likes of James Hill, Chris Mepham or Julian Araujo could deputise alongside the Argentine if Diakite has not yet arrived.

Kerkez’s replacement Adrien Truffert is expected to make his competitive debut at left-back, with Adam Smith the likeliest selection on the opposite flank and former Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic between the posts.

Justin Kluivert is thought to still be recovering from a calf issue that has kept him out since Bournemouth’s pre-season opener against Hibs last month, meaning Marcus Tavernier could start at No10 with Antoine Semenyo and David Brooks on the wings and Evanilson up front. Enes Unal is a long-term absentee following an ACL injury.

Tyler Adams and Hamed Traore could then form Andoni Iraola’s chosen pairing at the base of midfield, with Philip Billing another option there. Lewis Cook is out with a knee injury suffered during pre-season, while Luis Sinisterra and Ryan Christie both have yet to feature for the Cherries this summer due to injuries of their own.

Liverpool vs Bournemouth prediction

Liverpool are aiming for a 13th straight unbeaten season-opener, while Salah hunts a league-record extending 10th opening day goal.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, could become just the fourth team to topple the title holders on opening weekend if they can sneak a first-ever win at Anfield.

The odds of that unlikely scenario are fairly slim, though. Arne Slot will have learnt lessons from his side’s loss to Crystal Palace on Sunday, while Bournemouth may still need time to gel after a mixed pre-season and nearly a complete overhaul of their defence.

Liverpool to win, 3-1.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Liverpool are comfortably in front in the head-to-head history between these two sides, having won 19 of the 24 competitive fixtures they’ve played against Bournemouth.

That includes 12 of their last 13 meetings, aside from a 1-0 away loss in March 2023. The last draw in this fixture, meanwhile, came back in 2017, in a match that finished 2-2 at Anfield.

Liverpool wins: 19

Bournemouth wins: 2

Draws: 3

Liverpool won both meetings against Bournemouth last season

REUTERS

Liverpool vs Bournemouth match odds

Liverpool to win: 1/4

Bournemouth to win: 7/1

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).