Liverpool begin the Andoni Iraola era on Saturday, facing Sunderland at GEODIS Park in the Premier League Summer Series. The Reds arrive off the back of a difficult 2025-26 campaign that ended with a fifth-place finish, no trophies and a club-record 20 defeats this century. Arne Slot was dismissed at the close of the season.
Iraola takes over having built a reputation at Bournemouth for intense, physical football, with comparisons drawn to Jurgen Klopp. Assessing his system will have to wait, however, as Liverpool travel without a significant portion of their first-team squad. Van Dijk, Alisson and Gakpo are training separately, while Isak, Wirtz and Gravenberch join up next week.
Sunderland arrive in far better spirits after a remarkable return to the top flight. Regis Le Bris guided the Black Cats to seventh place and Europa League qualification, their first continental campaign since 1973-74. They opened their summer with a 5-1 win over York City and face Wrexham and Leeds later on this US tour.
Liverpool vs Sunderland: Key Stats
Sunderland have not beaten Liverpool in 12 meetings
Liverpool won 1-0 at the Stadium of Light last February, the first side to do so in the Premier League
The sides drew 1-1 at Anfield in December via a Mukiele own goal
Liverpool suffered a club-record 20 defeats last season
Sunderland finished seventh and qualified for the Europa League
Photo Credit (Getty Images)
What to Expect
Liverpool's squad is heavily depleted. Mac Allister and Victor Munoz are absent after the World Cup final, while Ekitike, Endo, Bradley and Leoni have travelled but remain unavailable through long-term injuries. Mamardashvili should start in goal behind a makeshift defence featuring Joe Gomez and new arrival Jeremy Jacquet.
That opens the door for younger players. Rio Ngumoha is expected to feature in attack alongside Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai, with 18-year-old Will Wright leading the line. It is a first look at Iraola's principles rather than his finished side.
Sunderland are similarly stretched. Xhaka, Talbi, Alderete and Meunier are all absent after deep World Cup runs, and seven more players including Brobbey, Diarra and Adingra join the squad on July 26. Winger Jocelin Ta Bi was denied a visa, with an appeal ongoing.
Predicted Lineups
Liverpool (4-2-3-1)
Mamardashvili; Ramsay, Gomez, Jacquet, Kerkez; Nyoni, Jones; Szoboszlai, Elliott, Ngumoha; Wright
Sunderland (4-2-3-1)
Ellborg; Mukiele, O'Nien, Hume, Reinildo; Browne, Rigg; Scott, Le Fee, Tutierov; Ogunsuyi
Players to Watch
Dominik Szoboszlai - Among the few senior Liverpool players available and should shoulder the creative burden. With so many regulars absent, his quality in the final third stands out considerably.
Rio Ngumoha - Continues to be one of the more exciting prospects at Anfield and gets extended minutes in a forward line short on established names. This is a genuine opportunity to impress a new manager.
Chris Rigg - Has become a key figure in Sunderland's midfield and will look to build on last season's progress. Against a young Liverpool side, he has the platform to dictate play.
Harvey Elliott - Needs a strong pre-season to establish himself under Iraola. His movement between the lines suits the intensity the Spaniard demands, and he will want to make an early case.
Prediction
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.56
Both squads are missing substantial numbers through World Cup involvement and injury, which typically produces open, disjointed friendlies rather than tight contests. Liverpool are fielding a youthful side under a new manager, while Sunderland are without their captain and several key performers.
Neither defence looks settled, and pre-season fixtures of this nature rarely finish goalless. Liverpool hold the historical advantage, having gone unbeaten in 12 meetings, but with both managers likely to rotate heavily, goals appear the more reliable read than the result itself.
