Wirtz and Ekitike start, Frimpong benched – How Liverpool could line up v Bournemouth
Liverpool could field a much-changed starting line-up when they face Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
The Premier League champions will face the Cherries on Friday (15 August) as they begin the defence of their title.
The Reds have lost Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer and there could be more departures by the time that the new season kicks off.
There is also likely to be more additions, as Jeremie Frimpong has already been signed and deals for Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz are getting closer to completion.
Liverpool to make huge changes for Bournemouth clash
Alisson is expected to retain his place between the sticks, despite the arrival of the highly-rated young goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The Reds reacted to losing Alexander-Arnold by bringing in Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen in a £29.5million deal, but he might have to settle for a place on the bench for the opener.
Slot is predicted to ease Frimpong into Premier League action slowly and allow Conor Bradley to continue his impressive rise to stardom.
At the heart of defence, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk are expected to remain as the starting centre-back duo, due to the formidable partnership that they formed last season.
It could be all change at left-back as Andy Robertson may depart Anfield this summer with Kerkez’s arrival, and the Hungarian is predicted to make his debut against his former club in the Anfield clash.
The base of midfield is expected to pair Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch after both enjoyed brilliant individual campaigns, the latter winning the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.
Wirtz set to make Liverpool bow after mega-money signing
Dominik Szoboszlai may lose his place in the starting line-up with Wirtz expected to make the move to Merseyside in the next few weeks.
The German can operate as a number 10 or from the left flank but Slot might decide to start him in his preferred position on this occasion, which would leave the Hungarian on the substitutes bench.
Luis Diaz may be shifted back to the left wing after featuring for the majority of the campaign as a false nine, if he remains with the Reds amid interest from Saudi Arabia and Barcelona.
On the right, Mohamed Salah’s place in the side is guaranteed, the Egyptian will be keen to start the season strongly after narrowly missing out on an all-time record-breaking season last time out.
The number nine position is perhaps the most fascinating at Anfield this summer, with Darwin Nunez expected to leave Liverpool.
They may well dip into the market if the right deal comes along and Hugo Ekitike is the right profile for the kind of striker that Slot is looking for, so he could be in line to start against the South Coast side, if the Reds make that move.
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