Liam Duckstein
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Bournemouth AFC host Liverpool in the English Premier League on Sunday 20 September 2026, and our predicted lineups for this clash highlight a sharp contrast in how settled each squad currently is. Marco Rose’s hosts have barely changed their starting side in recent weeks, while Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool have been shuffling personnel far more freely. That gap in consistency shapes much of the team news below.
Bournemouth AFC Predicted XI
Bournemouth are projected to line up in a 4-4-2, the shape Marco Rose prefers as his first-choice system. This is a settled side – 10 of the projected XI started their last match – which reflects how little rotation has crept into selection over the last six games. James Hill has been an automatic pick, starting all six of those matches, while Álvaro Rodríguez sits at the other end of the scale with just a single start in the same span. That contrast underlines how firm most of this predicted line-up is, even with a little more uncertainty up front.
Bournemouth AFC predicted XI: Djordje Petrović; James Hill, Antonio Silva, Adrien Truffert, Adam Smith; Justin Kluivert, Alex Scott, Marcus Tavernier, Rayan Vitor Simplício Rocha; Francisco Evanilson, Álvaro Rodríguez
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Djordje Petrović | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | James Hill | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 14 | Antonio Silva | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 3 | Adrien Truffert | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 15 | Adam Smith | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 19 | Justin Kluivert | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 8 | Alex Scott | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 16 | Marcus Tavernier | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 37 | Rayan Vitor Simplício Rocha | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| F | 9 | Francisco Evanilson | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| F | 30 | Álvaro Rodríguez | 1/6 | 1/3 |
Liverpool Predicted Lineup
Liverpool’s projection points to Andoni Iraola’s favoured 4-2-3-1, though the underlying pattern is far less settled than Bournemouth’s. This is a rotating side – only 5 of the projected XI started their last match – and that churn shows up throughout the group. Ronald Araujo has featured in all three of the most recent matches captured here, while Rio Ngumoha has forced his way into the picture with three starts overall despite being one of the newer names involved. The result is an expected XI built from recent patterns rather than a fixed first-choice team.
Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson Becker; Ronald Araujo, Milos Kerkez, Jérémy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk; Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha; Alexander Isak
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Alisson Becker | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 33 | Ronald Araujo | 4/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 6 | Milos Kerkez | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | Jérémy Jacquet | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 4 | Virgil van Dijk | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Dominik Szoboszlai | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 7 | Florian Wirtz | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 10 | Alexis Mac Allister | 4/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 18 | Cody Gakpo | 4/6 | 1/3 |
| M | 73 | Rio Ngumoha | 3/6 | 2/3 |
| F | 9 | Alexander Isak | 5/6 | 2/3 |
Team News and Confirmed Absentees
Julian Araujo, Eli Kroupi and Amine Adli are out injured, a blow that thins both Bournemouth’s defensive cover and their forward options given the mix of positions involved. Tyler Adams and Lewis Cook, each with three starts across the last six line-ups, look the most likely bench options to step in if changes are needed.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julian Araujo | D | injured | Thigh problems |
| Eli Kroupi | F | injured | Foot injury |
| Amine Adli | F | injured | Calf Injury |
Hugo Ekitiké, Federico Chiesa, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are out injured, absences that stretch across Liverpool’s forward line and their defensive options alike. Jeremie Frimpong and Víctor Muñoz, both with three starts in the same period, are the bench options best placed to fill in.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugo Ekitiké | F | injured | Achilles tendon problems |
| Federico Chiesa | F | injured | Back Injury |
| Giovanni Leoni | D | injured | Jumpers knee |
| Conor Bradley | D | injured | Jumpers knee |
Where These Predictions Come From
Each projection is built from the last six line-ups for that team, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones so current form carries more influence than results from weeks ago. Anyone confirmed injured or suspended has been removed from selection entirely before the expected XI is assembled. This is a projection, not confirmation – it can and will change once each club names its official team on matchday.
Read also: Bournemouth vs Liverpool Prediction: 20.09.2026 English Premier League
Read also: Bournemouth AFC vs Liverpool Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Bournemouth AFC vs Liverpool?
Djordje Petrović is projected in goal for Bournemouth AFC, while Alisson Becker is pencilled in for Liverpool despite not starting their last match.
What formation will Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool use?
Bournemouth AFC are expected to line up in a 4-4-2, while Liverpool are projected in a 4-2-3-1.
Who is unavailable for Bournemouth AFC vs Liverpool?
Bournemouth AFC are without Julian Araujo, Eli Kroupi and Amine Adli through injury, and Liverpool are missing Hugo Ekitiké, Federico Chiesa, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley for the same reason.
When do Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool kick off?
The match kicks off on Sunday 20 September 2026.