Liverpool vs Bournemouth tips and predictions: Back Salah to continue opening-day hot streak

Liverpool state of play

Liverpool kicked off their competitive campaign with a penalty shootout defeat to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield last Sunday.

Arne Slot's Premier League champions were in control as goals from summer signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong sandwiched Jean-Philippe Mateta's penalty, but Ismaila Sarr's late strike sent the tie to spot-kicks. 

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Despite effectively being a glorified friendly, it highlighted Liverpool's defensive vulnerabilities and Slot admitted his side must sharpen up at the back. 

Anfield will pay tribute to Diogo Jota following his tragic death in a car crash along with his brother Andre Silva in Spain last month. 

Bournemouth state of play

Bournemouth also head into the new Premier League campaign with question marks over their defence.  

The Cherries hope to build on last season's ninth-place finish, but Andoni Iraola's back line has been gutted in the transfer window. 

Arsenal recruited Kepa Arrizabalaga after his successful loan spell on the south coast, Milos Kerkez departed permanently for Friday's opponents Liverpool. Meanwhile Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid and his centre-back partner Illya Zabarnyi recently moved to French champions PSG. 

It's a credit to the club's recruitment and coaching staff that last season's stars have joined some of the game's biggest clubs so they will be expecting new buys Djordje Petrovic, Adrien Truffert and most recently defender Bafode Diakite from Lille to more than fill the void. 

Key talking point: Can Salah recover from Wembley woe?

Mohamed Salah was largely anonymous in the Community Shield before blazing a penalty into space in the shootout. 

You'd be mad for thinking that'll set the tone for his campaign and he'll, no doubt, be licking his lips at the prospect of facing a much-changed Bournemouth defence. 

Liverpool's player of the season will come up against Cherries newbie Truffert on the wing and move into space occupied by left-sided central defender Marcos Senesi, who barely featured last term. 

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The Reds expect to create plenty of opportunities and Florian Wirtz's arrival has the potential to help Salah improve his already impressive attacking numbers. 

Salah has hit the ground running in every Premier League season since joining Liverpool in 2017 and will expect to add to his tally of nine goals and six assists on matchday one. 

FIRST's top tip for Liverpool vs Bournemouth

Pick: Mohamed Salah to score and assist - 7/2 (Betway)

Salah has scored the most matchday one goals in Premier League history and kicked off last term by netting and assisting against Ipswich. 

The selection landed 11 times in the 2024/25 campaign and in 50% of Liverpool's openers since Salah joined.

Extra tips

Pick: Liverpool to win and over 2.5 total goals - 8/13 (Betway)

While in Monday’s rapid-fire Premier League tips, we picked out Liverpool and both teams to score - no, the champions should be winning and goals are to be expected because of the attacking talent on show and both teams having defensive concerns. 

The selection landed the last six times the Reds hosted the Cherries at Anfield. 

Team news

Ryan Gravenberch is suspended for Liverpool after being sent off on the final day of last season, while Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are injury doubts. 

Diakite only joined Bournemouth on Wednesday so is unlikely to start, while Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook, Justin Kluivert, Luis Sinisterra and Enes Unal are sidelined. 

Liverpool vs Bournemouth predicted line-ups

Liverpool: Allison; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike (4-2-3-1)

Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Evanlison (4-2-3-1)

Form guide (including friendlies)

Liverpool: DLDWWLWWWD

Bournemouth: WLLWWDWLLD

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Odds correct at the time of writing.