The wait is over — the 2025/26 Premier League season begins tonight, and all eyes are on Anfield as champions Liverpool host Bournemouth in the curtain-raiser. With new signings bedding in, title contenders strengthening, and the Africa Cup of Nations looming in mid-season, this campaign promises drama from August to May.
Leagues matches this season
Liverpool enter the campaign as favourites to retain their crown, having bolstered an already formidable squad with high-profile arrivals. Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike all make their league debuts tonight, signalling the Reds’ intent to keep evolving under Arne Slot.
Manchester City, after a rare trophyless season, have refreshed with Algeria’s Rayan Ait-Nouri, while Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham all made significant moves to close the gap. Tottenham’s £55m swoop for Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus could be season-defining, especially with Son Heung-Min’s departure.
Further down the table, Sunderland return to the top flight after eight years away, investing heavily in a youthful, African-influenced squad led by Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra. Meanwhile, promoted sides face the usual survival battle, with the January Afcon threatening to pull key players from squads in crucial fixtures.
Emotional opener at Anfield
While last night’s match marked the joyous return of top-flight football, it is also shrouded in sadness following the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident last month.
A tribute preceded kick-off, including a minute’s silence, black armbands, and a fan-led mosaic spanning the Kop and Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand. The players will wear “Forever 20” emblems on their shirts for the rest of the season in Jota’s honour.
Slot has wasted no time integrating his summer recruits — Ekitike leads the line, supported by Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, while Wirtz adds creativity in midfield. New full-backs Kerkez and Frimpong should provide attacking width, while captain Virgil van Dijk marshals the defence.
Bournemouth, under Andoni Iraola, also featured three debutants: goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, left-back Adrien Truffert, and £34.6m centre-back Bafode Diakite. The Cherries’ pace on the counter could trouble Liverpool if they commit too many bodies forward.
What lies ahead
Beyond last night, the opening weekend offers mouth-watering clashes. Arsenal face a tricky away trip, Manchester United begin life with Bryan Mbeumo leading their attack, and newly promoted clubs will seek early momentum.
With a packed fixture calendar, evolving tactics, and the shadow of Afcon affecting squad depth mid-season, the 2025/26 campaign could be one of the most competitive in recent memory. But for now, the spotlight rests firmly on Anfield — a stage set for both remembrance and the first chapter of a new footballing story.
