Liverpool have learnt from Community Shield, says Kerkez
Milos Kerkez tells Sky Sports, on facing his old team: “It is nice to see all the lads again. At the beginning of the season it is important to start well and it will be good to see familiar faces again.
“We have corrected the mistakes we made in the last game, the Community Shield, and today we want to show we are capable of everything. We want to win.
“Every club was active in the market, everyone was taking players, so this year there is going to be a lot of competition. And obviously everyone wants to beat the champions, but we are Liverpool and we are ready for the challenge.”
Lawrence Ostlere15 August 2025 19:55
Liverpool v Bournemouth line-ups
We’re only 10 minutes from kick-off. Here’s a reminder of the two line-ups tonight:
Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Evanilso
Lawrence Ostlere15 August 2025 19:51
The empires strike back as Premier League enters uncertain new era
There’s no better time to read Miguel Delaney’s big preview on the new Premier League season:
Maybe, after all the talk of “Moneyball”, this approach is just the “maturation” of an investment fund’s approach to football. Maybe there’s something more going on.
Lawrence Ostlere15 August 2025 19:46
Arne Slot speaks
On leaky defending during preseason: “If you look at the facts, what toy are saying is true. In general don’t think we conced may chances, but the ones we do concede are goals. We did concede more goals in pre season almost than we did in the whole of last season.”
Lawrence Ostlere15 August 2025 19:38
Arne Slot speaks
The Liverpool manager tells Sky Sports, of the club’s lavish summer spending: “A lot of players go at a club like this and it is normal to replace them, or we would use the u18 today which would not be smart. We lost many so we brought in many. Of course we have lost a few very good players but the ones we have brought in are special as well.”
Lawrence Ostlere15 August 2025 19:34
Liverpool v Bournemouth – live
Fans arriving before kick-off this evening:
Lawrence Ostlere15 August 2025 19:28
Premier League predictions
Here are The Independent football writers’ predictions for the season ahead:
Lawrence Ostlere15 August 2025 19:19
Liverpool v Bournemouth
It will be interesting to see if Arne Slot adapts his approach slightly after the Community Shield, where Palace made a lot of inroads behind the two new full-backs, Frimpong and Kerkez. The absence of Gravenberch is a big miss.
Lawrence Ostlere15 August 2025 19:09
Seven Premier League debuts to kick off season
Richard Jolly is at Anfield for The Independent tonight:
“Liverpool have made a new signing today, in Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26m. Four of their earlier arrivals make their Premier League debuts for their new club (and, in three cases, for any club) in Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Compared to the Community Shield, Alexis Mac Allister is in for Curtis Jones. Bournemouth give three arrivals debuts, in Djordje Petrovic, Adrien Truffert and Bafobe Diakite.”
Richard Jolly at Anfield15 August 2025 19:00
Bournemouth line-up
Bournemouth haven’t tweeted their line-up, but here it is:
Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Evanilson.
Subs: Dennis, Araujo, Soler, Kroupi, Hill, Traore, Billing, Winterburn, Rees-Dottin.
Lawrence Ostlere15 August 2025 18:50