As the 2025/26 Premier League season kicks off, all eyes turn to Anfield where reigning champions Liverpool host Bournemouth in what promises to be an electric curtain-raiser under the lights.
This Friday night clash isn’t just about the return of domestic football—it’s a chance for the Reds to show off their revamped squad in front of a buzzing home crowd, while Bournemouth arrive determined to flip the script on their dismal recent record in this fixture.
Bournemouth Look to Defy the Odds
The numbers don’t favor the Cherries heading into this one. Liverpool have dominated this fixture historically, especially at Anfield, where they’ve won their last six meetings with Bournemouth by a staggering 23-2 aggregate scoreline. In fact, Liverpool have won 11 of the last 12 top-flight encounters between the two.
Moreover, the Reds haven’t lost a season opener in 12 years—the longest active run in the Premier League—boasting nine wins and three draws since their last opening-day defeat in 2012 against West Brom.
But Bournemouth aren’t arriving without hope. They’re unbeaten in their last seven opening-day fixtures, and under Andoni Iraola, they’ve evolved into a dynamic, attacking outfit capable of catching opponents off guard—if they get it right.
he Stats Say One Thing—But Football Isn’t Played on Paper
Liverpool’s opening-day record as reigning champions is formidable. In 19 such scenarios, they’ve only lost once—nearly 100 years ago in the 1923/24 season. Premier League title holders, in general, tend to thrive on opening weekend: just three defeats in 33 years for defending champions.
Another fun stat? This is only the second time in Liverpool’s long history that they’ll start a league season on a Friday. The only previous time was in 2019/20, when they beat Norwich 4-1… and went on to win the Premier League.
Salah Eyes More Records, Wirtz Ready for Liftoff
Mohamed Salah loves an opening day—and he loves playing Bournemouth even more. The Egyptian has 11 goals against them, the most by any player in Premier League history, and leads the league’s all-time list with nine goals scored in season openers.
He also has a personal milestone in sight. With 105 goals at Anfield, Salah is chasing Thierry Henry’s Premier League record of 114 goals at a single stadium. Just 10 more would see him rewrite history again.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on new signing Florian Wirtz. If he scores, he’ll become only the third German player to find the net on Premier League opening day, joining Jurgen Klinsmann and Ilkay Gundogan. The former Bayer Leverkusen star not only brings goals—10 last season—but also creativity, with 12 assists in 2024/25.
Injury Woes for Bournemouth
The Cherries will be without key players: Justin Kluivert, Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook, Luis Sinisterra, and Enes Unal are all ruled out. That’s a major blow, especially against a Liverpool side packed with pace and depth.
Replacing Kerkez with Adrien Truffert could also be a key battle to watch, particularly if Frimpong starts down Liverpool’s right. The Dutch full-back could be in for a long evening unless Bournemouth find a way to double up effectively in wide areas.
Can Bournemouth Take a Page from Palace or Forest?
Despite the odds, there is a path forward for the Cherries—if they can emulate the courage shown by Crystal Palace in the Community Shield or Nottingham Forest’s shock win at Anfield last season. Exploiting Liverpool’s advanced fullbacks with quick counters and precision passing into the channels could unsettle the back line, especially if Konate or Van Dijk are forced to cover too much ground.
Iraola’s side must bring energy, sharpness, and belief. Otherwise, they risk becoming yet another statistic in Liverpool’s dominant home record.
