Liverpool vs. Bournemouth: Who should Arne Slot replace Ryan Gravenberch with in the Premier League opener at Anfield?

Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai will have to be selected in deeper midfield for Liverpool against Bournemouth given Ryan Gravenberch is unavailable, Reds expert David Lynch has insisted.

The Premier League is set to return on Friday evening, with Arne Slot's champions beginning their title defence against the Cherries at Anfield.

Slot faces somewhat of a dilemma in the engine room considering defensive midfielder Gravenberch is suspended due to the red card he received against Crystal Palace in the final game of 2024-25.

Speaking to Sports Mole ahead of Friday's game, Lynch expressed his view that Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are the most natural duo to play in midfield, saying: "In the absence of Gravenberch, you have to get Mac Allister in there somehow. Even if you can frontload it and do 60 minutes, I think it's crucial to get him in the team.

"Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and then it has to be Wirtz. He's played all pre-season in that central role. You pay 100 odd million, you're not going to not start him in the first Premier League game of the season.

"What happens after [Bournemouth] is going to be absolutely fascinating over the remainder of the season because there's so many options there, so much quality. Do we see Wirtz bumped into the forward line from time to time?"

Szoboszlai has been used in a deeper midfield role so far in pre-season, while Mac Allister was a mainstay in the XI last term alongside Gravenberch in a double pivot.

Is it risky to start Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai together?

Szoboszlai started in a midfield two on Sunday in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, and his performance in a deeper role was mixed, with the 24-year-old losing possession in dangerous zones at times.

Mac Allister was brought on as a substitute in the second half, but the Argentine failed to impress, though it was perhaps understandable as he has been dealing with injury issues throughout pre-season.

Lynch insisted that the Reds will need both players in the XI despite some concerns, when he told Sports Mole: "Ahead of the Community Shield Slot said that Mac Allister wasn't fit to start, but fit to be involved, and we did see him in the second half.

"I wonder whether that will have changed by the time that Friday comes around. Liverpool will hope so, because he was Liverpool's best midfielder last season, and he is their best midfielder.

"Szoboszlai's running [will be important]. I know he gave the ball away in some dangerous areas in the Community Shield, but he's had a very good pre-season in that deeper role and it will suit him down to the ground. Having Mac Allister's intelligence alongside him will help curb some of his instincts."

Curtis Jones could also be an option to play against Bournemouth considering he started against Palace, but his involvement will almost certainly be dependent on the fitness of Mac Allister.

Will Bournemouth be a challenge for Liverpool at Anfield?

Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-0 at Anfield and 2-0 away from home last season, though Andoni Iraola's side posed the Reds a number of challenges.

It should be noted that the Cherries could be vulnerable given they have lost three of their starting back four, as well as their starting goalkeeper, from the 2024-25 campaign this summer transfer window.

When asked if Friday's test could be a comfortable affair, Lynch strongly disagreed, telling Sports Mole: "I would never go down that route of saying it's going to be a comfortable one. They have a very good manager there and some very good players as well.

"The helpful thing will be that little bit of turnover for them. Are they quite there yet? Will it take them a while to hit their stride? It did last season as well - it took them a while [to get going]. They didn't have a great start and Liverpool beat them twice.

"Liverpool should be confident and the Anfield factor is massive. The atmosphere will be great with it being a Friday night. It's one of those where that turnover could be helpful for Liverpool, and if they themselves aren't disjointed, which we have seen a bit of over pre-season, then they should be big favourites to win."

The Reds signed left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth over the summer, and perhaps the defender will be key to Liverpool's chances of success.

> Click here to listen to the full discussion on who will replace Ryan Gravenberch against Bournemouth