Liverpool vs Sunderland – Match preview and team news
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Liverpool and Sunderland face off at the Geodis Park on Saturday as Andoni Iraola prepares for the upcoming season.
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Liverpool vs Sunderland – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 25th July
- Kick-off: 11pm BST
- Venue: GEODIS Park, Nashville
- Last Meeting: Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool, 12th February 2026.
Liverpool team news
Liverpool enters the fixture with a heavily depleted squad under new manager Andoni Iraola due to persistent injuries and late returns from international duty.
The Reds remain without last season’s long-term absentees Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni, who are all recovering from serious injuries.
While midfielders Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic have rejoined partial team training in America, the medical staff is highly unlikely to risk them for substantial minutes.
Furthermore, key international stars Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak, Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, and Victor Munoz are entirely unavailable following extended post-tournament holidays.
This severe shortage forces Iraola to rely heavily on fringe players, Academy prospects, and new arrivals, potentially handing summer signing Jérémy Jacquet his unofficial debut in central defence alongside regular first-team figures like Joe Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Sunderland team news
Sunderland faces similarly disruptive squad limitations as they prepare for the American friendly match.
The Black Cats are missing a massive core of their senior roster, including influential captain Granit Xhaka, Brian Brobbey, Robin Roefs, Noah Sadiki, Omar Alderete, and Chemsdine Talbi, who are all serving extended breaks due to deep tournament progression.
Compounding these absences, the club suffered a frustrating bureaucratic setback as 21-year-old winger Jocelin Ta Bi was denied entry to the United States after his visa application was officially rejected.
Consequently, management must pivot toward a highly experimental starting eleven, blending reliable senior mainstays like Luke O’Nien, Alan Browne, and Trai Hume with highly rated youth prospects.
Regular bench options and emerging talents like Chris Rigg, Tommy Watson, and Harrison Ogunsuyi are expected to receive rare opportunities to stake their claim for a permanent starting role.
Form
Liverpool: WLDLD
Liverpool heads into this pre-season fixture navigating a transitional period under new manager Andoni Iraola. The Reds concluded their 2025–26 Premier League campaign with a competitive 1-1 draw against Brentford at Anfield. Prior to the summer break, their form was highly inconsistent; they suffered a disappointing 4-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, which followed a heavy 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals. This Nashville friendly marks their first match of the pre-season.
Sunderland: DDWWW
Sunderland enters the match carrying strong momentum from a remarkably successful season, where they finished 7th in the Premier League to secure European football. Unlike their opponents, the Black Cats have already kicked off their pre-season schedule in spectacular fashion. They dominated their opening friendly match on July 18, securing a resounding 5-1 victory over York City. They look much sharper and more match-fit than a completely untested, heavily rotated Liverpool side.
Predicted lineups
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Ramsay, Gomez, Jacquet, Kerkez; Nyoni, Jones; Szoboszlai, Elliott, Ngumoha; Wright
Sunderland: Ellborg; Mukiele, O’Nien, Hume, Reinildo; Browne, Rigg; Scott, Le Fee, Tutierov; Ogunsuyi
How to watch Liverpool vs Sunderland?
The match will not be televised on regular TV channels in the UK. However, fans can stream the pre-season friendly live online on LFCTV.
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