Liverpool vs Bournemouth preview: Team news, line-ups, prediction
Liverpool begin the defence of their Premier League crown when they take on Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night.
Arne Slot‘s side ran away with the title last season, but considering how their main title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City have also strengthened, Liverpool will need to be at their very best throughout the entire season to win the league.
The Reds were poor at Wembley as they were defeated by Crystal Palace on penalties in the Community Shield, with both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk being uncharacteristically sloppy.
Slot will need the spine of his side to be firing on all cylinders to help the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike settle.
Both attackers have impressed from the glimpses we have seen so far, and supporters will hope they continue to do so.
Form guide (including pre-season)
Liverpool: LWWWL
Bournemouth: DDLLW
Team news
Cody Gakpo is expected to lose his place in the starting XI following his disappointing performance in the Community Shield.
- Gakpo won just one of his five duels in a flat performance against Palace
Ryan Gravenberch is also unavailable for selection as he must serve a suspension after being sent off in the final game of last season against Crystal Palace, so Curtis Jones may take his place.
Milos Kerkez could make his Premier League debut for Liverpool against his former club.
Luis Sinisterra and Justin Kluivert are both doubts to start in the attack for the Cherries.
Lewis Cook is unlikely to feature in midfield as he is only just due to rejoin team training.
Predicted lineup
Liverpool: Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Ekitike, Wirtz
Bournemouth: Petrovic, Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert, Adams, Brooks, Traore, Tavernier, Semenyo, Evanilson
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth
Expect the defending champions to come out and make a statement in their opening match at Anfield.
Ekitike scored a fantastic goal at Wembley and will follow that up against another two against Bournemouth, with Salah adding the third goal from the spot.
Expect Wirtz to be instrumental again and be at the heart of the attacking moves for multiple goals within the game.
With the likes of Kluivert out, it should be a relatively straightforward clean sheet for Alisson and Co. despite their defensive struggles in pre-season.
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