The 2025-26 Premier League season begins this evening with a match between reigning champions Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield.
History is certainly on the Reds’ side, and in more ways than one. Not only do they boast a strong record on Matchday 1, but defending champions also have an impressive overall performance in the Premier League.
Liverpool have not lost their opening league game in any of the last 12 seasons, winning nine of those encounters. Their last campaign to commence with a defeat was in 2012-13, Brendan Rodgers’ first season in charge, when they suffered a 3-0 loss against West Bromwich Albion. The Reds’ unbeaten streak is currently the longest in the Premier League for any team on Matchday 1.
There have been very few instances of title holders losing their first league match of the following season. The collective record of defending champions reads 26 wins, four draws, and just three defeats across the 33 previous Premier League campaigns.
If there is anything that might offer the Cherries a glimmer of hope this week, it is that these losses have all occurred within the last nine seasons. Leicester City were the first to falter on Matchday 1 in 2016, followed by Chelsea, who fell to Burnley the subsequent year. Manchester City’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in 2021 completes the set.
In fairness to Bournemouth, they too have a decent record, not having lost their opening league match in any of the last seven campaigns. Coincidentally, alongside Liverpool, their last opening-day defeat also took place at The Hawthorns, where they were narrowly beaten 1-0 in the 2017-18 season.
However, it seems irrelevant when Bournemouth face Liverpool during the season; they almost always come away with a defeat. The Reds have won 11 of the last 12 Premier League encounters between the two clubs. Additionally, Liverpool triumphed in a cup tie on the south coast during that period on their journey to lifting the Carabao Cup in the 2023-24 season.
At Anfield, the record is even more staggering. Bournemouth have managed to secure just one point from a possible 24 against Liverpool in the Premier League, losing their last six visits by a combined scoreline of 23-2.
As with many opponents of the Reds, a significant part of the Cherries’ struggle has been the phenomenal form of Mohamed Salah. He has netted 11 Premier League goals against them, more than any other player.
