The 2025/26 Premier League season kicks off at Anfield on Friday night, with defending champions Liverpool starting their title defence at home against Bournemouth. The hosts will be eager to hit the ground running after a productive pre-season, while Bournemouth aim to defy expectations and build on last season’s top-half finish. Here are my thoughts, along with a betting suggestion for you to consider.
Before we dive into the match preview, let’s take a quick look at the latest outright markets for the Premier League title. With the season about to kick off, Liverpool remain clear favourites to retain their crown at 7/4, followed by Arsenal at 9/4. Manchester City are also in the mix at 7/2, while Chelsea stand out as my preferred dark horse at 8/1. The rest of the contenders are priced at 25/1 or higher.
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LIVERPOOL v BOURNEMOUTH – Click here to bet
Last season, Liverpool were runaway Premier League winners, finishing top of the table with 84 points—ten points clear of their nearest rivals Arsenal—and boasting the league’s most potent attack, scoring 86 goals across 38 matches. Anfield remained a fortress throughout the campaign, with the Reds winning 14 of their 19 home games (W14, D4, L1) while conceding just 16 goals. Mohamed Salah was electric, ending the season with 29 goals and 18 assists, and new signing Florian Wirtz is expected to add further creativity to Arne Slot’s side as they look to maintain their ruthless home form.
Following a disappointing Community Shield loss on penalties to Crystal Palace after a 2-2 draw at Wembley, Liverpool will be eager to bounce back in their league opener at Anfield. Despite conceding twice in that match, the Reds can take confidence from their recent dominance over Bournemouth, having secured clean-sheet victories both home and away last season, and conceding just twice in their last six Premier League encounters with the Cherries.
Bournemouth enjoyed a strong campaign under Andoni Iraola, finishing ninth with 56 points. Their away form was impressive, earning 28 points from 19 matches (W7, D7, L5), including notable results at Arsenal and Chelsea. The Cherries scored 58 goals last season and lost just twice in their final eight league games, building solid momentum heading into the new campaign. Having begun last term unbeaten in their first three league matches, they will be aiming to replicate that promising start this season.
With Liverpool showing some vulnerability in the Community Shield this past weekend, Bournemouth will look to capitalize on any early lapses. However, their recent history against the Reds paints a rather grim picture, having failed to secure a positive result in their last five meetings across all competitions. Another key concern for the Cherries is the fitness of top scorer Justin Kluivert, who suffered a calf injury during preseason. While Antoine Semenyo will offer some threat, Kluivert’s absence would be a significant blow to their attacking options.
Head-to-Head
Liverpool have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning twelve of the last thirteen Premier League meetings. Last season, the Reds completed a league double over Bournemouth with a 2-0 away win and a 3-0 victory at Anfield. Bournemouth have yet to win at Anfield in the Premier League, with their last point there coming from a 2-2 draw back in 2017.
Betting
Liverpool 3/10
Draw 11/2
Bournemouth 8/1
Verdict
Liverpool’s form at Anfield speaks for itself, and with the momentum of a title-winning campaign behind them, they should have too much quality for Bournemouth. The Cherries can cause problems on the counterattack, but their record on Merseyside offers little optimism. Given that Liverpool have won by two goals or more in each of their last three home matches against Bournemouth, and following last week’s disappointing Community Shield result, expect a strong and emphatic response from the champions as they look to kick off their season with a commanding victory.
Suggested Bet: Handicap – Liverpool -1.5 at 15/20
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
