Arne Slot observed that Liverpool’s recent signings got a taste of the Premier League during their Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace.
The match ended 2-2, with Liverpool losing 3-2 on penalties. Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister, and Harvey Elliott missed their penalties. Despite the defeat, Slot believes the new players have gained valuable experience.
Liverpool has been active in the transfer market this summer. They acquired Florian Wirtz for a record fee in Britain. Additionally, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez have joined to strengthen the squad. However, defensive issues persist as they conceded nine goals in six pre-season games.
Their defence struggled against Crystal Palace, with Virgil van Dijk conceding a penalty and later allowing Ismaila Sarr to score an equaliser. Slot emphasised the need for defensive improvement before facing Bournemouth in their first league match of the 2025-26 season.
Slot remarked on the challenge posed by Crystal Palace: “This [Palace] was the number 12 [12th-placed team] of last season-a very good team.” He noted that if such teams can challenge Liverpool, it sets expectations for what lies ahead in the league.
Bournemouth had mixed results in pre-season matches. They secured a 3-0 victory over Everton but suffered defeats against Manchester United (4-1) and West Ham United (2-0). Manager Andoni Iraola faces challenges with a revamped defence following player departures and new arrivals.
Bafode Diakite is among Bournemouth’s new signings. He joined for £34.6 million (€40 million) and is eager to start his Premier League journey. Diakite expressed his excitement: “I’m really happy to be here and I’m very excited to start with the team.”
Key Players to Watch
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is a standout player to watch. Last season, he led in goals and assists and has an impressive record against Bournemouth. Salah scored twice in their last encounter at Vitality Stadium, contributing to a 2-0 win for Liverpool.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo had an excellent previous season with 11 goals and five assists. He recently renewed his contract with Bournemouth after helping them finish ninth last season.
Match Prediction: Liverpool Favoured
Liverpool is expected to begin their title defence successfully at Anfield. They have won 11 of their last 12 Premier League matches against Bournemouth, except for a loss in March 2023. The Reds have not lost an opening league game since the 2012-13 season.
Bournemouth has struggled at Anfield historically, securing only one point from eight visits in the Premier League. However, they haven’t lost an opening league match in seven seasons since losing to West Bromwich Albion in 2017-18.
| Team | Win Probability (%) |
|---|---|
| Liverpool | 69.4% |
| Draw | 16.9% |
| Bournemouth | 13.7% |