Iraola Returns as Liverpool Face Bournemouth’s Historic Home Threat

BOURNEMOUTH, England — Liverpool’s visit to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday brings Andoni Iraola back to the South Coast for the first time as the club’s head coach. Iraola orchestrated Bournemouth’s historic rise to European qualification during a highly successful two-year tenure, and the spotlight will be brightest on the visitor’s technical area.

The fixture also carries a place in modern Premier League history. Iraola is the first Liverpool manager to face one of his former Premier League clubs since Brendan Rodgers led the Reds to a 1-0 victory over Swansea City in March 2015. Liverpool managers have remained unbeaten in their last seven matches against former employers, recording five wins and two draws since Kenny Dalglish’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United in April 2012.

Liverpool has won 14 of the 18 Premier League meetings between the sides. The Reds have failed to score in only one of those matches, while their 54 goals in 18 games give them an average of three per game against Bournemouth — their highest scoring average against any opponent they have faced at least ten times in the competition.

The Vitality Stadium, however, has hosted all three of Bournemouth’s top-flight victories over Liverpool, including a dramatic 3-2 win in January 2026. Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier has also found the net four times in his last five Premier League appearances, although he has lost all five of his career appearances against Liverpool by an aggregate score of 22-2.

Bournemouth changed managers after Iraola left at the end of the 2025/26 season, with Marco Rose taking charge. Rose’s team secured the club’s first-ever European victory on Thursday, beating Real Sociedad 2-1 in San Sebastian in the UEFA Europa League. Domestic results have been less productive: Bournemouth opened its Premier League campaign with three draws and one defeat.

The Cherries led in all four of those league matches but failed to win any. If they score first and do not collect three points against Liverpool, they will become only the third club in Premier League history to lead in five consecutive top-flight matches without winning, joining Manchester City in January 2004 and Tottenham Hotspur in October 2007 and December 2023.

Bournemouth has drawn 13 of its 23 Premier League matches in the 2026 calendar year. Its 56.5% draw ratio is the highest recorded by any team in a single year in the history of the English top flight.

Rose has nevertheless given the side an aggressive attacking identity. Bournemouth’s 24 shots on target are more than those recorded by any other Premier League team this season, and its average of six shots on target per game is the highest under any of the five managers who have led the club in the Premier League.

Liverpool arrives unbeaten in its first six matches of the season across all competitions. The side has drawn three of its opening four league games, making this the first time Liverpool has begun a league campaign with three draws in its first four matches since 2005/06, when it also drew its fifth match.

The visitors have consecutive Premier League clean sheets behind them. A third straight shutout would be Liverpool’s first three-match league run without conceding since the Reds kept four consecutive clean sheets between May and September 2024.

Iraola has made three changes to the Liverpool team that drew 0-0 at home against Fulham eight days ago. Hungarian defender Milos Kerkez returns to the starting lineup against his former club, while Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister also come in. Ryan Gravenberch, Victor Munoz and Kostas Tsimikas drop to the bench.

Liverpool remains without defender Conor Bradley and defender Giovanni Leoni, who is out with a knee injury. Forwards Federico Chiesa, sidelined by a muscle problem, and Hugo Ekitike, who has an Achilles injury, are also unavailable.

Alisson starts in goal for Liverpool, with Ronald Araujo, Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk and Kerkez forming the defensive line. Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz are in midfield, while Gakpo and Bradley Barcola flank Alexander Isak.

Rose has made one change to the Bournemouth side that defeated Real Sociedad on Thursday. Scottish international Ryan Christie comes into the starting eleven, while winger Justin Kluivert drops out of the squad entirely.

Djordje Petrovic will line up behind Adam Smith, James Hill, Antonio Silva and Adrien Truffert. Alex Scott and American international Tyler Adams anchor the midfield, with Christie, Rayan and Tavernier playing behind Brazilian striker Evanilson.

The match kicks off on Sunday at 14:00 BST (09:00 ET / 06:00 PT). In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Ultra will provide live television coverage, with digital streaming available through Sky Go and NOW TV.