The 2025-26 Premier League season begins Friday with defending champion Liverpool hosting Bournemouth at Anfield. Here’s what to know heading into the new campaign in the world’s most popular soccer league: Liverpool will attempt to retain the top-flight title for the first time since the mid-1980s to the backdrop of a tragedy.

On Monday 4 August, Liverpool played two pre-season games against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. The games had different starting XIs with a mix of senior players and potential first team starters combining with fringe members of the squad in order to give Arne Slot a better feel for how his players are coping ahead of the start of the new season.