Liverpool start their pre-season with a visit to Preston on Sunday for the Reds’ first match for the reason that passing of Diogo Jota.
Preston vs. Liverpool
Pleasant (1) | Deepdale
July 13, 2025 | 3pm (BST)
An unfathomably unhappy interval in Reds historical past has unfolded over the previous week, following the tragic dying of Jota.
It’s now a case of Liverpool making an attempt to maneuver on in probably the most respectable method doable, beginning with Sunday’s journey to Preston.
Right here’s all it is advisable to know forward of the primary pleasant of the summer season.
1. Tributes for Diogo Jota
It will likely be an emotional go to to Deepdale and plans have been introduced to honour the lives of Jota and his brother Andre forward of kickoff.
Preston have requested all supporters to be of their seats by 2.45pm as singer Claudia Rose Maguire will carry out renditions of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Assist Falling In Love’ and Liverpool anthem ‘You’ll By no means Stroll Alone’.
Representatives of Liverpool and Preston – doubtless together with captain Virgil van Dijk – will lay wreaths in entrance of the away finish, often known as the Invoice Shankly Kop.
Deepdale will observe a minute’s silence earlier than kickoff whereas tributes will likely be displayed on the large display and pitchside LEDs and gamers on either side will put on black armbands.
Preston have additionally produced a free particular version of their matchday programme in tribute to Diogo and Andre, with additional tributes anticipated within the stands all through the afternoon.
2. New signings and who may function
Seeing new signings is often one of many highlights of pre-season, and there may very well be as many as 5 recent faces on present for Liverpool at Deepdale.
Florian Wirtz is the star attraction, following his transfer to Anfield for a British switch report price of £116 million.
The German isn’t the one new addition, although, with Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez additionally becoming a member of this summer season.
For Frimpong, it’s a probability to point out that he’s a well-suited, right-sided possibility, whereas Kerkez will likely be seeking to show that he’s now a superior choice to Andy Robertson.
In the meantime, Freddie Woodman has joined Liverpool from Preston, which means the goalkeeper may doubtlessly come up towards his former membership.
Attainable squad members:
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Pecsi
Defenders: Van Dijk, Conate, Speaker, Bradley, Freeson, Robertson, Simica, Beck, Nallo
Midfielders: Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Endo, Elliott*, Morton*, McConnell, Nyoni
Forgets: Salt, Gakpo, Nuns, Diaz, Delivery, Doak, Dans
* Uncertain
3. Ultimate sport for some gamers?
There was hypothesis round sure Liverpool gamers leaving this summer season, becoming a member of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher and Jarell Quansah out of the exit door.
Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez spring to thoughts first – the South American pair have been linked with strikes to Bayern Munich and Napoli, respectively.
At this level, it will be a shock if each gamers have been nonetheless at Liverpool come the beginning of the season, and this might even be one in every of their remaining video games for the membership if match to function.
Federico Chiesa‘s future can be unsure, as is James McConnell‘s, however each will likely be wanting to point out Slot that they’re value sticking with.
Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton are linked with exits and they’re each again with the squad after profitable the European Beneath-21 Championships with England.
4. Kids seeking to shine
Slot has large choices to make with a number of gamers this summer season, not least the younger contingent.
The futures of Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak and Jayden Danns are all up within the air, however they’ll hope to make a flying begin to pre-season.
Sadly for Bajcetic, he’s nonetheless recovering from hamstring surgical procedure, however Doak and Danns might hope to keep away from being loaned out once more.
That mentioned, there’s removed from a assure that any of them will nonetheless be Liverpool gamers come the tip of August.
5. No new equipment…for now
Liverpool’s equipment cope with Nike doesn’t expire till the tip of July, so we gained’t get to see the brand new strip simply but – as a substitute, Slot’s facet will likely be donning a 2024/25 equipment.
The Reds will likely be again in an Adidas equipment from the start of August, which means they gained’t don it this weekend or for the tour of Hong Kong and Japan.
6. Who else do Liverpool play in pre-season?
That is the primary of six pre-season friendlies for Liverpool, forward of the defence of their Premier League title.
Subsequent up after Preston is a conflict with AC Milan in Hong Kong on July 26, earlier than the Reds tackle Yokohama FM in Japan on July 30.
Anfield hosts its first matches on August 4, with two totally different XIs dealing with Athletic Bilbao in a double-header.
Then comes the Group Protect assembly with Crystal Palace on August 10, previous to the Premier League opener at house to Bournemouth on August 15.
7. What’s occurred at Preston this summer season?
It was a 2024/25 marketing campaign to overlook for Preston, who ended up ending twentieth within the Championship.
Their final victory got here in the course of March and they’re once more anticipated to be among the many stragglers on the backside of the desk.
Paul Heckingbottom’s facet have misplaced Woodman to Liverpool, as talked about, however new signings have arrived together with Brighton right-back Odeluga Offiah.
The go to of the Reds is all the time a prestigious event for them and they are going to be seeking to spring a shock at Deepdale in what’s their third sport of the summer season.
8. Do you know?
That is the second 12 months in a row that Liverpool are dealing with Preston in a pre-season pleasant.
Final summer season, the Championship outfit gained 1-0 in a behind-closed-doors pleasant on the AXA Coaching Centre in Slot’s first ‘unofficial’ pleasant, with Robbie Brady scoring the one aim.
Liverpool final performed at Deepdale in a pleasant in 2023 – they gained 3-1 towards Darmstadt in pre-season.
9. Comply with the match with TIA
Preston vs. Liverpool is reside on each ITV1 and LFCTV from 2.30pm on Sunday, with kickoff at 3pm.
Alternatively, This Is Anfield‘s first reside weblog of the season will likely be operating, with Sam Millne within the chair from 2.30pm.
