Liverpool's Most Important Games of the 2025/26 Season
When Liverpool start the 2025/26 season, they'll be doing so as defending Premier League champions. The Anfielders finished 10 points ahead of London side Arsenal and are ready to blast out of the blocks on the first day of the new season, which gets under way on Friday, 15 August 2025.
The Reds will also be itching to get their new players out on the pitch. The versatile Jeremy Frimpong has joined the Merseyside club from Bayer Leverkusen, as has 22-year-old playmaker Florian Wirtz, also from Bayer Leverkusen. Other players the team has signed include goalkeeper Armin Pecsi, who comes from Hungarian top-flight side Puskas Akademia.
Of course, to defend successfully, the Reds will have to be on top form. The bookies have given them the shortest Premier League odds, making them the favourites. They'll have to come out on top in some big fixtures to help prove them right. Below are some important ones in the schedule.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth finished 9th in the 2024/25 Premier League season and will be visiting Anfield on the opening day of the season. Naturally, both teams will want to get off to a good start and secure three points.
Before then, Bournemouth will be hoping it can fill the centreback-shaped hole Dean Huijsen's £50 million move to Real Madrid has left in the team. The signing of adaptable leftback Adrian Truffert from Rennes might give them some breathing room, especially as Milos Kerkez has made the move to Anfield. Bournemouth's disappointing summer so far will mean they are huge outsiders in the live betting odds ahead of their trip to Merseyside.
Arsenal
On 30 August, Arsenal will be travelling up to Liverpool and testing them early. The Gunners made it as far as the semifinals in the Champions League last season and will be looking to go further this time.
Like other clubs, Arsenal will be busy on the transfer market, seeking players who could help them achieve that and replace the ones the club has waved goodbye to. Among the departures are Nuno Tavares, who was on loan but then sold to Lazio, and Kieran Tierney, who returned to Celtic. Brazilian attacker Marquinhos, who Arsenal signed from Sao Paolo, also leaves and returns to his home country's Serie A.
Players the Gunners will be hoping to land in the summer transfer window and put pressure on all the Premier League clubs with include German winger Leroy Sane and RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sasko. Whereas Sane could join on a free transfer, Sasko comes with a hefty price tag of €110 million (£92 million).
Everton
Towards the end of the season, Liverpool will be visiting Everton's new home, Hill Dickinson Stadium. In February's last Merseyside derby, at Goodison Park, Everton stunned Liverpool with a late equaliser. They'll be looking to do better this time.
Everton have made Charly Alcaraz a permanent player of the squad after signing him on loan from Brazilian club Flamengo during the winter transfer window. The club are also thought to be replacing right back Ashley Young with Fulham man Kenny Tete.
Manchester City
The Sky Blues had a tough 2024/25 and finished without adding any silverware except the Community Shield. When the Reds travel to the Etihad Stadium in November, City will be trying to take some of last season's disappointment on them. Although they secured qualification for the Champions League, they want more.
The failures of 2024/25 have convinced manager Pep Guardiola to strengthen the squad, even though they finished strong. So far, he's brought in midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan for £46.3 million, Wolves left back Rayan Ait Nouri for £36.3 million and Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki for £29.5 million, all on five-year contracts. He's also signed Marcus Bettinelli, from Chelsea, as a backup keeper.
Brentford
Liverpool's last game will be against Brentford, who finished 10th in 2025. By that time, the league could already be decided or, as has happened in the past with Liverpool, go right to the very last day. How Liverpool fare against Brentford and how the other teams fare in the other nine matches on the same day could decide the league title winners.
Brentford have confirmed Ben Mee and Ben Winterbottom's departure in the summer and may have £60 million to purchase replacements. Manchester United have upped their offer for Bryan Mbeumo to £60 million, but the west London club are holding out for £65 million.
Liverpool begin their league title defence on 15 August 2025 and all sides, complete with new signings, will be gunning for them. After hopefully getting off to a good start against Bournemouth, the Reds face a major early challenge from Arsenal and later from Manchester City. The final game of the season could be decisive. Liverpool may increase a vast lead or, to stay ahead of the rest, have to push themselves to the very last day of the season, as has sometimes been the case.