Liverpool have been revealed to be playing a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday against Vauxhall Motors, after Dominik Szoboszlai signed a new five-year contract.
Liverpool to play Vauxhall Motors
Non-league team Vauxhall Motors have revealed they will play Liverpool at the AXA Training Centre on Saturday in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
In what will be a game played largely for fitness purposes, the Reds will face the eighth-tier outfit at midday, but the match won’t be on television.
We don’t yet know if we highlights will be broadcast on official club channels, but we will have the news about what happens in Kirkby when it breaks.
Like most pre-season friendlies, Liverpool’s side will be made up of a mix of senior and academy players against the Wirral-based team, with the likes of Jeremy Jacquet and Ifeanyi Ndukwe able to make their non-competitive debut.
The first and second halves should start with a different separate starting XI as Andoni Iraola takes the opportunity to watch his players in a semi-competitive environment for the first time.
Dominik Szoboszlai signs new contract and praises Andoni Iraola
Szoboszlai’s contract was set to expire in 2028, but he has now signed a new deal that will last until 2031 and put him up with Liverpool’s highest earners.
In his LFC TV interview accompanying the announcement, the 25-year-old spoke of how he wants to “set the example” at Liverpool, adding he is “ready” to take the vice-captaincy if called upon.
Szoboszlai had his best individual season under Arne Slot last season, but he was alone in excelling. With Iraola now at the helm, he was asked how much he is looking forward to working with the new boss.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai (R) after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended 1-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I think he showed it in Bournemouth that [he is] an unbelievable coach,” said Szoboszlai.
“Always competed with us with the most fit team in the Premier League. With the intensity how he wants to play and the knowledge that he has, I think he’s an unbelievable coach.
“I’m looking forward to playing under him.”
Szoboszlai said he wants “to win everything” at Liverpool; let’s go and do it.
LFC News: Jayden Danns fitness update
Watch Chris Kirkland at the LFC Foundation
Watch Chris Kirkland, Matt Parish and Steve Morgan explain why the new £6m pledge is so important to the LFC Foundation on our YouTube channel here.
• Despite Iraola alluding to Jayden Danns being injured, This Is Anfield understands the 20-year-old has not suffered a new injury and is simply being managed due to tightness in his hamstring
• Journalist David Lynch reports that Liverpool are viewing Jeremie Frimpong as more of a utility player rather than someone who would play ’50 games at right-back’ this season
• The Steve Morgan Foundation has pledged a further £6 million to the LFC Foundation over the next five years to tackle deep-rooted social inequalities across the Liverpool City Region
More from This Is Anfield
Dominik Szoboszlai has signed a new contract so, for now, we are safe to assume he will wear a Liverpool shirt for at least the next couple of years.
Joanna Durkan looks at why the REds had to pay the 25-year-old a big wage and how it puts the club in a vastly superior negotiating position ahead of any future exit:
“Last season was dominated by talk over whether Ibrahima Konate’s contract would be resolved, which immediately followed on from the saga surrounding Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“While two talks concluded with contracts, the other two ended with over £100 million worth of talent walking out the door for only the £8.4 million Real Madrid paid for the right-back’s early release.
“Each contract that went unsigned created unwanted and unnecessary sideshows during the last two seasons, and no one had the stomach for a third, especially during Iraola‘s debut campaign.
“For a club that has prided itself on ruthless and shrewd squad management, contracts have become somewhat of a circus, passed from one sporting director to the next.”
Football News: Bowen stays & Forest bid for Bergvall
London, UK. 16th Jan, 2022. Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United (Image: Andrew Orchard sports photography/Alamy Live News)
• Jarrod Bowen is to stay at West Ham, having said his “main motivation is staying and bringing this club back to the Premier League” – that rules him out of a move to Liverpool then
• Nottingham Forest are set to bid £45m for Tottenham‘s Lucas Bergvall after they had a £38m offer rejected last week (BBC Sport) – perhaps they have now moved away from targeting Curtis Jones
• The winners of Sunday’s final will receive World Cup-engraved rings, with a further 1,996 rings going on sale to the public – any chance to make a few quid!
• Atletico Madrid’s CEO, Miguel Angel Gil, has spoken directly to Barcelona president Joan Laporta to tell him to end their pursuit of Julian Alvarez
Liverpool FC: On this day
COVENTRY, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 6, 1996: Liverpool's Rob Jones in action against Coventry City during the Premiership match at Highfield Road. Coventry won 1-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Former Liverpool right-back Rob Jones left Liverpool on July 17, 1999, departing for West Ham on a non-contract basis.
A great player for the Reds, Jones was an excellent all-round full-back. However, despite playing 243 times for the club, there will always be a sense of ‘what if’ about his career.
Injury hampered his time at Liverpool and prevented him from becoming one of the best of his generation.
At 54 years old, Jones is now a friendly face, coaching at the academy in Kirkby.