Liverpool manager, Arne Slot has once again paid tribute to Diogo Jota as he sends out a very strong starting XI against Bournemouth in the Reds opening Premier League fixture for 2025/26 season, Softfootball reports.
The Reds won the competition for the 20th time last season and will be looking to have a good start against the Cherries tonight at Anfield as new signing Giovanni Leoni watches from the stands.
In the starting XI posted via the official club’s media Slots makes just one change from the side that lost to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield. Argentina international, Alexis Mac Allister coming into the starting line-up while Joe Gomez returns from injury and among the substitutes, while new signings Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz all make their Premier League debuts for the Reds.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike, Frimpong.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Truffert, Senesi, Brooks, Scott, Evanilson, Adams, Smith, Tavernier, Diakite, Semenyo.
Subs: Dennis, Araujo, Soler, Kroupi, Hill, Traore, Billing, Winterburn, Rees-Dottin.
Arne Slot on Liverpool’s readiness for the season. He said:
“I think far better than I expected five or six weeks ago. At that moment of time you feel, will it ever be possible to play again or will it ever be possible to get them going again? But as I said many times, they have conducted themselves so, so, so well in that period of time since we first heard the news [about Diogo Jota and Andre Silva]. And afterwards I think on both sides they were great; as a human being but they also understood that we had to be professional football players again, so we had to work hard and that’s what they started doing.”
In his match program shared on the club’s official X handle, Arne Slot make a tribute to the late Diogo Jota and brother, Andre.
He wrote:
“We know that this will be a very emotional occasion, given it is the first league game we have played since we lost Diogo and Andre.
“As I have said previously, the tributes that have been paid throughout the football world, and especially within the LFC community, have been truly special, and I know that tonight we will come together to honour them once more.
“I believe that Diogo’s wife, his children and his family will be in attendance and it is important that, as a club, we show that they will always have our love and support as they deal with this most tragic of situations. We are there for them always.”
For Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola. He said:
“I think we do certain things that are uncomfortable for teams but for Liverpool, because even if you play very fast and very demanding games and very rock and roll, they are ready for it. They are the best ones doing this.
“So, we have to change a little bit the approach if we want to hurry them because it’s a difficult match-up for us.”
Last season, Mohamed Salah was the star man for Liverpool and the fans will be hoping he starts the season well, beginning from today.
