Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool’s pre-season is up and running this week, and there’s already been plenty for Reds supporters to get excited about on and off the pitch.
As Andoni Iraola oversees the first steps of his squad’s preparations for the 2026/27 campaign, Dominik Szoboszlai has officially signed a new long-term contract at Liverpool.
It’s believed he extended his stay until 2031.
The 25‑year‑old, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2023 for around £60m, still had two years left on his previous deal but has now committed his peak years to the club.
While the first team get stuck into their preparations, there was interesting news on the academy front from Liverpool youth reporter Lewis Bower.
Bower has revealed that Liverpool U21s will host Cardiff City U21 in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, August 1, with kick-off scheduled for 2:30pm.
The clash will offer a valuable test for Liverpool’s youngsters against Welsh opposition and comes as part of Cardiff’s own warm-up schedule for the new campaign.
It follows on from the Japanese J1 League announcing that a U‑15 J.League Select team will face Liverpool U15 on Wednesday 24 July and Friday 26 July at Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka in Tokyo, with both games kicking off at 18:30 local time.
The fixtures form part of the “J.League International Series 2026 Academy Match”, an official youth‑exchange project organised by the Japanese league to promote development and international links at under‑15 level.
For the senior men’s side, Liverpool have officially confirmed a three-match USA tour that runs from July 25 to August 2.
The Reds are due to fly out on July 20, giving Iraola a few days on American soil before the first game to acclimatise and ramp up training.
They’ll face Sunderland at GEODIS Park in Nashville on July 25, Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York on July 29, and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago on August 2.
Liverpool U21 will host Cardiff U21 in a pre-season friendly on Saturday August 1st 2:30pm.
— Lewis Bower (@LewisBower2021) July 17, 2026