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(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media)
Edward Bazeley
Fri 15 August 2025 11:59, UK
Bournemouth face a tough task in their opening Premier League fixture as they travel to defending champions Liverpool on Friday.
The Cherries have faced a difficult summer transfer window, as Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid, whereas fellow centre-back Illia Zabarnyi has moved to Champions League winners PSG.
Consequently, Andoni Iraola will have a new look defence at Anfield on 15 August, while former Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez could make his Premier League debut for Liverpool against the Dorset side.
Meanwhile, attacker Dango Ouattara is set to join Brentford, in another blow to Iraola ahead of the new season.
Football Insider takes a look at how Bournemouth could line up in Merseyside against Arne Slot’s men.
Iraola is set to name his first lineup of the 2025/26 Premier League season (Credit: Imago)
The exits of Huijsen and Zabarnyi could see Iraola calling upon Marcos Senesi and James Hill as his centre-back duo.
Summer signings Djordje Petrovic and Adrien Truffert should both be in line to make their Bournemouth debuts.
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Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s midfield options have been dictated by the fact that Lewis Cook is serving a suspension, while Ryan Christie only recently returned to first-team training after an injury.
Furthermore, Iraola will miss Justin Kluivert, whose injury has ruled him out of featuring against Liverpool on Friday.
Therefore, the Dorset outfit’s firepower in the North West on Friday will come from striker Evanilson and winger Antoine Semenyo.
Football Insider verdict
Bournemouth predicted XI
Bournemouth have historically done well at replacing former stars who have moved on to pastures new.
OpponentDateLiverpool (A)15/08Wolves (H)23/08Tottenham (A)30/08Bournemouth face Liverpool on Friday
For example, the Cherries coped well with Dominic Solanke’s move to Tottenham last summer, as fellow striker Evanilson arrived and scored 10 Premier League goals in the 2024/25 season.
However, losing Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Kerkez, and Ouattara in one transfer window could prove tough for Iraola this season.
Iraola is a talented Premier League manager, and Bournemouth should not be dragged into a relegation battle amid his stewardship.
However, the Cherries appear unlikely to land another top-half finish this time around, and Liverpool’s quality will prove too much for them on Friday.
Dealing with the threat of Mohamed Salah, as well as that of summer signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, would be a tough ask for any Premier League defence, let alone a Bournemouth one that has been severely weakened by several departures.
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