Liverpool got off to a winning Premier League start against Bournemouth on Friday but it’s clear the new-look team will take time to gel
Ian Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 20 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. He previously also covered Everton for 18 years and followed England, reporting on the European Championships and World Cup final. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz of Liverpool talk as they take to the pitch prior to the Premier League match against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15 2025(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Here we go again. So continues the throbbing sense of deja vu from the previous time Liverpool were reigning Premier League champions five years ago.
First came the debate over whether three senior centre-backs was sufficient cover for the position, concerns admittedly having been eased with the arrival of teenager Giovanni Leoni from Parma and the ongoing interest in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
Then there was the Community Shield defeat on penalties to London opposition at Wembley, Palace replicating the achievement of Arsenal in 2020. And then the season opened with an Anfield goalfest which sparked fierce scrutiny of Liverpool’s defending and featured a late goal from Mohamed Salah to finally settle the outcome with a home win.
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But the comparisons end with the personnel. While the Reds largely kept with the same squad in defence of the title under Jurgen Klopp, this time around Arne Slot has been compelled to overhaul the squad.
Leoni, watching on from the Main Stand as Slot’s side eventually saw off Bournemouth on Friday evening, has become the sixth big-money signing of the summer, four of whom started against the South Coast outfit. It was telling that none of them finished.
Florian Wirtz was the last to depart, having, as against Palace last weekend, been given a thorough examination of his physicality by opposing defenders. While not shirking the challenge, it’s clearly going to be some time before the 22-year-old is fully adjusted to both his new club and a new league.
“I think he did well,” says Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk. “I think he was quite tired towards the end, so that says a lot about the intensity of the Premier League. I think he is an incredible talent, he is so good on the ball, a great dribbler, and he has settled in nicely but there is a lot to come in my eyes.
“There is still hard work for him to do, but that is part of being a Liverpool player and the pressure that comes with it. But I’m pretty confident he will be absolutely fine.”
Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, meanwhile, have the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, widely regarded as Europe’s most potent attacking full-back pairing during their prime.
Both had departed by the hour, although for differing reasons. “Jeremie felt his hamstring a little bit,” says Slot. “That’s a risk, especially if the other full-back, Conor Bradley, is already out with an injury and Joe Gomez had only trained twice. I felt he couldn’t play half-an-hour in this intensity, so I started off with Wata (Endo) in that position, knowing I could always bring Joe on for 10, 15, 20 minutes.
“Milos Kerkez plays every duel as if his life depends on it, which is a great quality. But if you play against such a good winger like Semenyo and you’re already on a yellow card, then it’s a risk, knowing that you have Robertson as well (on the bench).”
Kerkez in particular looks a little raw, although long is the list of players who took time to adjust to Anfield life – Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and, of course, Robertson are just some who spring to mind.
It appears, though, that Hugo Ekitike has no such initial issues, having followed up his Wembley strike with a goal and an assist on Friday. With a little more care, the Frenchman could have had a hat-trick.
“Hugo Ekitike came later in pre-season from a good team (in Eintracht Frankfurt), but I don’t think you can compare them to Liverpool and you can’t compare the leagues,” says Slot. “So far him to already be able to play 70 minutes is a big, big bonus for us. 90 is a risk.”
Van Dijk has been similarly impressed. “I didn’t know much at all (about him),” says the captain. “He was also quite tired when he came off, that’s the also the demand of the Premier League so he has to keep working to try to stay important. I’m glad he has got off the mark in the Premier League and hopefully there is more to come.
“I think he settled pretty great in the team in general, but we all know the life of a striker – you can score and everything is rainbows and sunshine – and you don’t and it’s a different world. He just has to keep his head down, scoring and making assists, and be impressive in defending and attacking and see what the season brings for him.”
Indeed, with Liverpool still interested in wantaway Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, Ekitike may be wise to continue making the most of the opportunity as a number nine, with St James’ Park the next step on Monday week.
Of course, there will be supporters worried that after easing off the gas during the end of last season – Liverpool took only two points from their final four games – it won’t be straightforward for those involved in the title win to put the foot down fully again.
When in 1983 Liverpool’s dominance was such they failed to win any of their last seven games in sauntering to the title, the following campaign they won only four of their first eight league matches.
That said, Liverpool eventually clicked into gear and ended up claiming the treble of championship, League Cup and European Cup that season.
Nobody is expecting quite that from the current Reds vintage – not least given they remain a work in progress for the foreseeable future. But points eked out during these opening months as the new-look teams start to gel could prove crucial in the final analysis.
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