Liverpool started pre-season with a 3-1 victory over Preston after both sets of fans and clubs put on emotional tributes to Diogo Jota following his death last week
16:53, 13 Jul 2025Updated 17:04, 13 Jul 2025
Liverpool's Darwin Nunez (right) celebrates scoring their side's second goal with team-mates during the pre-season friendly match at Deepdale Stadium, Preston.
Liverpool opened pre-season with victory over Preston(Image: PA)
Liverpool started pre-season with a 3-1 victory over Preston North End.
The Reds returned to action for the first time since the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain last week. With emotional tributes paid to the forward before kick off from both sets of fans and clubs.
This fixture was in doubt of going ahead following the awful news, but both clubs put on a great spectacle as football returned to England and the champions got their new season underway, hours before Chelsea finish their campaign in the Club World Cup final against PSG.
Liverpool started on the front foot and took the lead after 33 minutes as Conor Bradley was relieved to see his effort deflect off a Preston defender on the line from just three yards out.
Arne Slot rang the changes at half-time seeing Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Freddie Woodman all make their first appearances for the club after joining in the summer. While Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili started between the sticks.
A fan of Liverpool holds up a banner which pays tribute to former Liverpool player Diogo Jota
Tributes were paid to Diogo Jota(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Darwin Nunez was one of those introduced at half-time and got his pre-season off to the best possible start as he pounced on an under hit back pass to round Daniel Iversen and slot home to double the lead.
After Liverpool missed chances to put the game out of sight, Preston made a game of it late on when Liam Lindsay powered home a header from a corner in the 83rd minute. But Cody Gakpo wrapped up the win with a coolly taken finish from inside the box.
Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at five talking points from Liverpool's victory
Ngumoha magic
At just 16, Ngumoha made a brilliant impression on fans. The Reds had to pull out the stops to sign the teenager from Chelsea but that effort looks to be well worth it.
Rio Ngumoha dribbling
Rio Ngumoha was impressive(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Starting on the left wing, Ngumoha picked the ball up and drove into the box, skipping between two Preston defenders before laying the ball to Federico Chiesa in the build-up for Bradley’s opening goal.
It remains to be seen how much action Ngumoha will see over the remainder of pre-season and in the first-team next season, but he has certainly made a positive impression.
Mamardashvili debut
Liverpool might actually have the best two goalkeepers in the league, which is bizarrely a welcome relief for rival fans with Mamardashvili and Alisson unable to play at the same time.
Both keepers are likely to fight it out to be No.1 this season and Mamardashvili showed to be a safe pair of hands. Towering at 6’6, the Georgian is a commanding presence in the air and takes no prisoners coming for crosses.
Signed last summer off the back of a brilliant Euro 2024 and loaned back to Valencia, the 24-year-old looks to be well-suited to English football.
Milos Kerkez
Another debut for an exciting summer addition, Kerkez came off the bench at half-time and played left-back, while Andy Robertson played next to him at left centre-back.
Robertson has been linked with an exit and it appears that he might need to find a new role if he is to be remain at Anfield.
However, Liverpool were without Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, and Jarrell Quansah’s exit leaves them currently light at centre-back as a move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is explored.
Darwin Nunez
Darwin Nunez got himself on the scoresheet(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Ben Doak
Still only 19, Doak made his debut for the Reds in the 2022/23 season, making several cameo appearances off the bench.
The winger suffered a serious knee injury the following season before being loaned to Championship outfit Middlesbrough, where his promising season was again curtailed in February by a hamstring injury.
Doak could be set for a key pre-season as he looks to get back up to speed and try to win a place in Slot’s squad. Coming off the bench at half-time, his directness caused problems for the Lilywhites’ defence.
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Jeremie Frimpong
Signed as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s replacement after becoming one of the world’s highest-rated right wing-backs at Bayer Leverkusen, Frimpong will be asked to play a more defensive role than he did in the Bundesliga.
Slot’s full-backs are given the freedom to move forward and get in the box, as seen with Bradley’s goal, which could see Frimpong thrive.
Against Championship opposition, Frimpong wasn’t asked questions defensively, something that is likely to become a major talking point in the coming season.