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Liverpool began their 2025/2026 Premier League title defense with a challenging home fixture against Bournemouth on Friday, 15 August 2025. The match was notable for concerns over Liverpool's squad availability, particularly in defense, where Joe Gomez’s inclusion was uncertain following an Achilles injury that sidelined him since a pre-season friendly a month prior. Despite missing much of pre-season, there was a possibility he could be named on the bench as Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot deliberated on the squad selection based on available numbers and readiness. Gio Leoni’s imminent arrival from Parma hinted at future defensive reinforcement but not immediate involvement in this game.

Historically, the fixture favored Liverpool significantly. Bournemouth had never won at Anfield, securing only one draw in their Premier League visits. Liverpool had won 11 of their last 12 league encounters with Bournemouth, with the sole exception being a 1-0 away loss in March 2023. Bournemouth had managed just one point from 24 Premier League away matches at Anfield, often losing by large margins, with recent visits resulting in an aggregate 23-2 scoreline. Additionally, Liverpool had not lost their opening league game in 12 consecutive seasons, underscoring their strong home start tradition.

Liverpool was missing key players such as Ryan Gravenberch due to suspension from a red card in the previous season’s final game. The match lineup and tactical decisions by Slot were keenly anticipated by supporters, who debated their preferred starting eleven and hoped the coach's choices would resonate with expectations. Ticket sales for the game had been conducted exclusively via a ballot system limited to All Red members, reflecting the high demand and anticipation for this crucial opening fixture.

The game itself ended with Liverpool securing a narrow 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, marking a successful start to their league campaign and continuing their dominance over the visiting side.

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