Liverpool kicked off pre-season with a cushty 3-1 win at Preston that noticed 22 gamers characteristic and aim celebrations among the many tributes to Diogo Jota.
Preston 1-3 Liverpool
Pre-Season Pleasant (1) | Deepdale
July 13, 2025
Targets
Bradley 33 ′ (Help: Szoboszlai)
Nunez 53′ (help: none)
Slide 88 ‘(ASSIST: DOAK)
Group information
With 11 gamers together with Florian Wirtz overlooked, Arne Slot named a blended lineup at Deepdale which noticed an unofficial debut for Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Academy gamers Luca Stephenson, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha all began with Mohamed Salah captain and Federico Chiesa up entrance.
Pre-match noticed emotional tributes to Jota, together with a rendition of You’ll By no means Stroll Alone and a minute’s silence in honour of the striker and his brother Andre Silva.
First half
It was an unsurprisingly disjointed begin for a Liverpool facet lacking a variety of key names – with pure midfielder Stephenson at centre-back – and with the emotion of taking part in so quickly after Jota’s passing.
That confirmed as Chiesa struggled for tempo as he failed to succeed in a ball by means of on aim, with the Italian snuffed out when he might have been anticipated to attain.
The twentieth minute introduced a stirring rendition of Jota’s track which grew louder and louder and lasted nearly 10 minutes, by means of a water break as a result of searing warmth.
Liverpool took the lead quickly after the sport’s resumption, with Conor Bradley the unlikely goalscorer as he compelled it house following nice work from the brilliant Ngumoha.
Half time: Preston 0-1 Liverpool
Second half
Slot made 11 adjustments for the second half with new signings Freddie Woodman, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez all making their first appearances.
It took simply over seven minutes for Darwin Nunez to make it 2-0, charging onto a sloppy backpass, rounding the goalkeeper and ending nicely earlier than paying tribute to Jota with two of his celebrations.
Liverpool have been denied a transparent penalty by referee Darren England – the infamous Luis Diaz VAR – when Ben Doak was introduced down after dancing previous his marker, whereas on the different finish Woodman made a positive save to thwart Daniel Jebbison.
The goalkeeper couldn’t do something to maintain out a free header from former teammate Liam Lindsay from a nook, with Preston bringing it again to 2-1 late on.
However Cody Gakpo wrapped it up within the remaining minutes after excellent work from Doak to press himself into a chance to tug it again and, after a dummy from Nunez, Gakpo was in a position to take the contact and end.
Like Nunez, Gakpo produced certainly one of Jota’s trademark celebrations in a win that proved a becoming tribute to the striker.
Ohhhh, he wears the No. 20…
The sf persstm was half of XID, Marshed. The bus, the Baal, the sister of the place; Gorgal Grehos, Sabirs, yoursers; The day, You’re the greatest, Chik
Sweden-legged 2: Woodman; Frimpong, Nallo, Robertson, Key; Endo, Jones, Coumas; Doak, Gakpo, Nuns
Subs not used: Pecsi, Pilling, Morrison
Subsequent match: AC Milan (N) – Pleasant – Saturday, July 26, 7.30pm (BST)
