Wirtz, Ekitike and the other players set to make Liverpool Premier League debuts vs Bournemouth
Liverpool will face Bournemouth in the opening game of the Premier League season, and several players will make their competitive debuts for the Reds.
Arne Slot has had a busy summer window after winning the Premier League, with a number of high-profile departures replaced with big-money signings.
Liverpool were beaten in the Community Shield despite new striker Hugo Ekitike scoring early on, but there is still plenty of hype surrounding the new stars.
There is still Liverpool interest in Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi, but even without these signings, four new signings could make their first Premier League appearances for Liverpool.
Florian Wirtz to make Premier League bow
Florian Wirtz is almost certainly set to start following his club-record move from Bayer Leverkusen, in what will be his first taste of Premier League football.
Wirtz’s move broke the British transfer record, and he arrives as a superstar and a title-winner with Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso.
- Wirtz has impressed with Leverkusen and the German National Team, and provided 31 goal and assist contributions in 45 appearances across all competitions last season.
The 22-year-old provided the assist for Ekitike’s opener in the Community Shield, and will hope to do the same again against Bournemouth.
Ekitike to grab chance upfront
The potential arrival of Isak could see Ekitike moved to the left wing or even to the bench at times, but until and if the Newcastle attacker joins, the Frenchman will be trusted upfront.
Ekitike will hope to make a fast start in England to make himself undroppable even if Isak joins, and he has already shown what he is capable of with his superb goal against Crystal Palace.
The striker joined from Frankfurt for around £79million, and has replaced Darwin Nunez as centre-forward.
Jeremie Frimpong to be trusted immediately
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure meant that Liverpool were short at right-back, but Conor Bradley may have been seen as a ready-made successor.
However, Jeremie Frimpong joined from Leverkusen as a more attacking option, and he is set to be handed a start immediately following his peculiar goal in the Community Shield.
Despite spending time in the Manchester City academy, Frimpong has never appeared in the Premier League, and the Bournemouth game will be his debut in the competition.
Milos Kerkez to face old club
Milos Kerkez joined from Bournemouth earlier this summer, in a big-money deal, and is seen as a left-back for the present and the long-term future.
Kerkez has never won at Anfield with Bournemouth in two attempts, but he will now hope to be on the winning side in this clash after joining Liverpool for around £40m.
The Hungarian excelled as an attacking option under Andoni Iraola last season, and will aim to beat off competition from Andy Robertson for a starting spot.
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