Liverpool kick off their Premier League title defence against Bournemouth at Anfield. We have picked out three tips for the match that can be combined for a 9/2 bet builder.
The 2025/26 Premier League season kicks off at Anfield on Friday night as Liverpool begin their defence of the title against Bournemouth.
The Reds won their 20th top-flight title by a 10-point margin last season and it looks sure to be an emotional occasion in their first home match since the death of striker Diogo Jota.
Arne Slot’s side were unable to begin this season by picking up more silverware as they lost in a penalty shootout against Crystal Palace in Sunday’s Community Shield after a 2-2 draw, but debut goals for summer signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong provided a welcome boost before the new league campaign.
Bournemouth equalled their best ever Premier League finish with ninth place last season, 28 points behind the Reds, but they have not fared well in recent meetings with Liverpool, losing the last three by multiple goals without scoring.
Liverpool v Bournemouth Tips
-
Liverpool -1 on Handicap 3-way @ 7/10
-
Hugo Ekitike anytime goalscorer @ 1/1
-
Florian Wirtz to assist 1+ goals @ 9/5
Pays out at 9/2
Reds can extend streak of first-day success
Bournemouth are not used to disappointment in their first match of the league season, last losing their opening fixture in 2017/18, but Liverpool’s opening-day unbeaten run stretches back five years further to 2012 and Arne Slot’s side should be confident of starting out with a victory.
The Cherries were impressive throughout last season and they lost only five of their 19 away league games, but their warm-up performances have not given the impression that Andoni Iraola’s team are ready to march into Anfield and take down the champions.
The south-coast side won their first match in the Premier League Summer Series against Everton, but were beaten 4-1 by Manchester United and 2-0 by West Ham in their subsequent games in the United States and another multiple-goal defeat is on the cards.
That has been the case in their last three league clashes with the Reds, in which they have failed to score, losing 2-0 at home last season and 3-0 in this fixture after going down 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium in January 2024.
Liverpool having had a more competitive game under their belt is another advantage. Bournemouth ended their preparations by drawing 1-1 and 0-0 in two friendlies against Real Sociedad on the same day, and taking the Reds to win by more than one goal appeals as they face a team who have found scoring a difficulty this summer.
Leg 1: Liverpool -1 on Handicap 3-way @ 7/10
Ekitike could grab first Anfield goal
Hugo Ekitike made a fantastic first impression on British audiences with his sweet strike against Crystal Palace and the French forward must fancy his chances of adding a first Premier League goal against Bournemouth.
Ekitike netted 15 goals in 33 Bundesliga matches for Eintracht Frankfurt last season, adding four more in the Europa League including one against Tottenham in London.
Having opened his account at Wembley, the 23-year-old should be hopeful of a first Premier League goal against a new-look Bournemouth defence.
Leg 2: Hugo Ekitike anytime goalscorer @ 1/1
Wirtz set to wow home fans
Florian Wirtz joined Ekitike, Frimpong and former Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez in making their first competitive starts for Liverpool at Wembley and everything points to the Germany international becoming a key player in the side.
The former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder is a world-class performer who can help to make the most of the forward talent around him. Wirtz provided the assist for Liverpool’s first goal at Wembley and that looks likely to become a regular occurrence, so take the new arrival to create a goal for a teammate against Bournemouth.
Leg 3: Florian Wirtz to assist 1+ goals @ 9/5
