Credit: Imago

Rahul Lakhani

Mon 11 August 2025 20:41, UK

Liverpool are set to face AFC Bournemouth in the opening game of the Premier League season, as the Reds look to defend their title.

Arne Slot has strengthened his squad with several high-profile signings, while a number of first-team stars have left in a major revamp.

Liverpool are in good shape to win the title again, with Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz potentially set to be joined by Alexander Isak.

Liverpool will face Bournemouth on the opening day of the season, but the Cherries have had a very different summer to the Reds.

Bournemouth squad decimated ahead of new season

Andoni Iraola led Bournemouth to their best-ever Premier League finish last season, but he will be frustrated as their squad has been decimated in the transfer window.

Liverpool contributed to this, as they bought Milos Kerkez in a big-money deal, but Iraola has now lost four of his five defensive players.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga moved to Arsenal after his loan spell ended, while Liverpool-linked Dean Huijsen has joined Real Madrid.

Ilya Zabarnyi is set to join Paris Saint-Germain, in a profitable but damaging summer for Bournemouth, and they are yet to reinvest this cash injection despite the shortage within their squad.

• Bournemouth have made £107 million in sales this summer, with Jaidon Anthony and Mark Travers also among those departing for transfer fees.
• They are also closing in on the £30.3m signing of Lille centre-back Bafode Diakite.

Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has joined from Chelsea, while Stade Rennais left-back Adrian Truffert has been signed, but these are the only two first-team additions they have made.

• Read more: Hugo Ekitike movement key: What we’ve learned from Arne Slot’s pre-season tactics

Liverpool have spent heavily this summer

Liverpool have also sold players for significant fees, with Jarell Quansah, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez among those who have departed so far.

They have broken the British transfer record to bring in Wirtz, while Ekitike was also one of the biggest transfers of the summer.

• Liverpool’s total spend has exceeded over £250m, and this could reach £400m if Isak and Guehi join.
• They have received around £170m in sales, and Harvey Elliott could take this total above £200m if he leaves.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure led to the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong alongside Kerkez, and they could be joined by Marc Guehi later in the window.

This is shaping up to be Liverpool’s most productive window ever, and it puts them in good stead to win more major trophies in the upcoming campaign.

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