MatchThe opposition lowdown: AFC Bournemouth
Get the lowdown on AFC Bournemouth ahead of Liverpool's first Premier League game of the season this evening (8pm BST kick-off).
- Pre-season preparations
Bournemouth completed seven fixtures as part of their pre-season ahead of 2025-26.
They first held two domestic matches against Scottish outfit Hibernian and Championship side Bristol City.
The Cherries also took part in the Premier League Summer Series, where they faced Everton, Manchester United and West Ham United in the USA.
They finished up their preparations with a double-header against Real Sociedad teams last weekend.
- Summer business and key players
Milos Kerkez is a name now familiar to Liverpool supporters, with the full-back having arrived at Anfield from the south coast earlier this summer.
Other notable players to leave are defenders Dean Huijsen and Ilya Zabarnyi, who have joined Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.
However, the Cherries have made the additions of Bafode Diakite from Lille and Adrien Truffert from Stade Rennais, alongside the arrival of goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea.
In terms of key players, last season Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson were all important with their output in front of goal.
Kluivert netted 12 times in the Premier League alongside six assists, while Semenyo struck 11 times with six assists recorded.
Forward Evanilson netted on 10 occasions and set up five goals.
- Team news
Enes Unal is a long-term absentee, having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January.
Also on the sidelines in recent months have been Kluivert, Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra.
Dango Ouattara may miss the trip to Anfield due to discussions over his future.
- Previous meetings
Liverpool overcame Bournemouth home and away last season in the two Premier League encounters.
At Anfield, Arne Slot's men prevailed 3-0 thanks to Luis Diaz's double and a strike from Darwin Nunez.
In February at Vitality Stadium, two goals from Mohamed Salah secured the spoils.
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Watch on YouTube- What was said
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola
"We are the first game and a lot of people will be watching us. It's not the place you want to start your season, at the home of the champions. Also after they lost the other day [in the Community Shield] despite controlling and they probably want a reaction."
- Pre-match stats
Bournemouth haven't lost their opening game in any of the last seven league seasons (won three, drawn four) since a 1-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion, while this will be the first time they have ever faced the defending top-flight champions on the opening day.
The Cherries have lost nine of their last 10 Premier League games against reigning champions, although they did beat Manchester City 2-1 at Vitality Stadium last season.
Bournemouth have lost just one of their last 14 league games on a Friday (won nine, drawn four), winning their only two such matches in the Premier League (2-1 v Brighton & Hove Albion in September 2017, 3-1 v Southampton in September 2019).
Evanilson has scored five goals in his last six away starts for Bournemouth in the league.
Bournemouth won 2-0 against Leicester City in their final game of 2024-25, but haven't won consecutive Premier League matches since January (versus Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest).