Liverpool - Bournemouth: Tribute to Diogo Jota, title defense... A special first match for the Reds

Reigning English champions Liverpool kick off their Premier League season this Friday, August 15, at home against Bournemouth. A special encounter for the Reds could see a final tribute to Diogo Jota.

This Friday, Liverpool begins the defense of their Premier League title won last season. At home, the Reds will face Bournemouth at 9 p.m. in a special atmosphere. Nearly a month and a half after the death of Diogo Jota, the Liverpool players return to Anfield and their supporters. There's no doubt the tension will be palpable and emotions will run high at kickoff. After wearing a badge bearing the inscription "Diogo J.20" during the pre-season tour of Asia, the Reds are holding a commemoration and a final tribute this Friday. A minute's silence will be observed and a mosaic will be unveiled for the occasion. Finally, a commemorative sculpture will be built, using items donated by the club's supporters, to establish a place of remembrance at Anfield.

Liverpool, a historic transfer window

This summer, Liverpool was a major player in the transfer market. While they lost Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, and Darwin Nunez to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Al-Hilal respectively, the Reds spent more than €300 million to acquire Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Jérémie Frimpong. This squad overhaul is expected to continue in the coming hours. Keen to strengthen the backline, the club's directors are on the verge of signing young Italian Giovanni Leoni from Parma. The Reds are also anticipating the potential departure of Frenchman Ibrahima Konaté, whose contract expires in the summer of 2026. This summer, Liverpool became the third Premier League club to exceed the £300 million (€348 million) mark in a single transfer window.

"Still room for improvement"

Although Liverpool officially kicked off their season with a defeat last weekend against Crystal Palace in the Community Shields, Arne Slot is excited about the start of the Premier League season. However, the Dutch coach believes his squad still has work to do: "There have been ups and downs while the drops weren't that small, but I think the main thing is still to improve. Which is normal. I think for everyone in pre-season, it's normal that there's still room for improvement, let alone if we lose three or four starters. I think we lost five to six players who played quite a few minutes for us last season and we signed four new ones. So it's normal that there's a bit of an adjustment. But we're definitely ready for the start of the league."

In a press conference, Arne Slot admitted that he feared the intensity of the Bournemouth players: "They made things very difficult for us last season. We beat them 3-0, while you ask yourself: 'What is he talking about, difficult?' "But if you look at the game, they had their first big chance of the game, they scored a goal slightly offside. Then we counterattacked them three times, I wouldn't say, but we moved the ball very quickly from back to front. And suddenly, at half-time, we were 3-0 up, and then I thought—which I always thought when I was a manager in Holland—'This is going to be four, five or six draws.' But the mentality Bournemouth showed in the second half kept us going. That's also the mentality they've had throughout the season since. They've also lost some players and brought in some good new ones. As they've shown in recent years, they can always bring in good new players. And away from home, it was even more difficult for us. So, a very good team, a good manager, and it was a challenge for us on Friday. But I'm looking forward to it, because a game An evening at Anfield is something everyone looks forward to."

Bournemouth decimated

This summer, Bournemouth lost a lot. The back line was decimated by the losses of Kepa (Arsenal), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Illya Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain), and Milos Kerkez (Liverpool). Adrien Truffert and Bafodé Diakité joined the Cherries from Stade Rennais and Lille. A complicated transfer window for Andoni Iraola: "We're not where we want to be, but there have been a lot of changes, and when the transfer window is over, there will have been some big moves. I hope we can adjust and do it quickly so we can focus for the start of the season. We're the first game, and a lot of people will be watching. It's going to be a big game. It's going to be a good test for us and a place where we can see where we stand."

What time does Liverpool - Bournemouth start?

The first Premier League match of the season between Liverpool and Bournemouth is scheduled to kick off at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, at Anfield Stadium in England.

Which channel can I watch Liverpool - Bournemouth on?

Canal+, which holds the TV rights to the English championship, will broadcast the match between the Reds and the Cherries free-to-air .

How to watch Liverpool vs Bournemouth live stream?

If you want to watch the opening Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth on your computer, smartphone or tablet, you will need to subscribe to MyCanal .

What are the probable lineups for Liverpool - Bournemouth?

Liverpool: Alisson (G) - Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez - McAllister (or Gravenberch), Szoboszlai - Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo - Ekitike.

Bournemouth: Petrovic (L) - Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert - Adams, Scott - Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo - Evanilson.

What are the predictions for Liverpool - Bournemouth?

• Betclic: Liverpool: 1.30 / Draw: 6.05 / Bournemouth: 7.95
• Bwin: Liverpool: 1.31 / Draw: 5.50 / Bournemouth: 7.25
• Online Sports Betting: Liverpool: 1.29 / Draw: 6.15 / Bournemouth: 8.35
• Unibet: Liverpool: 1.30 / Draw: 6.05 / Bournemouth: 7.90