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Can Régis Le Bris’ side reproduce the exciting, free-flowing football shown against York City and trouble Liverpool in Nashville?
The Lads now travel stateside to face the Reds at GEODIS Park in Nashville on 25 July and the game itself — as with all matches hosted over the last six weeks in North America — will kick off late at 23:00 BST.
In profile: Liverpool
Liverpool have confirmed their thirty one-man travelling squad, with the obvious omission of their World Cup stars, who’ve earned a well-deserved break.
In their place are fringe and academy players, but the squad is still heavily populated by Reds stars such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitiké, Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley, with promising young prospect Rio Ngumoha also travelling.
The Reds also include new Anfield additions Jérémy Jacquet and World Cup winner Victor Muñoz, as well as Stefan Bajčetić.
The Reds are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but can sometimes switch to a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-2-2, with the number eight or number ten playing as a second striker.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JULY 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Jérémy Jacquet of Liverpool during an U21 training session at AXA Training Centre on July 09, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The Reds’ potential tactical approach
Liverpool attack with high tempo and width, shifting from a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 base formation to overwhelm defences. They rely on overlapping full backs, fast wingers isolating defenders in one-on-one duels, and central midfielders pushing forward to create scoring opportunities inside the penalty area.
Liverpool masterfully utilise width to create severe defensive overloads on the wings. Full backs regularly tuck inside during the early build-up phases to create shorter passing angles and narrow the pitch. They also like to isolate one-on-one situations.
As the full backs move inside, the wingers maintain maximum width on the touchlines. Once the opponent’s defence narrows to counter Liverpool’s central numbers, the ball is quickly switched out wide to allow the wingers to attack isolated defenders.
When opponents press aggressively high up the pitch, the Reds aim to bypass the first two lines of pressure to exploit the massive spaces left behind. They use a 4+2 build-up structure with a deep double pivot, often featuring players such as Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.
One midfielder will pull wide or drop deep to isolate an opposing midfielder, creating an immediate passing lane behind the initial pressing line.
When facing a deeply entrenched defensive low block, Liverpool focus on shifting the opposition’s defensive lines horizontally in order to create vertical gaps.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Cody Gakpo of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford at Anfield on May 24, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The numbers game
The Merseyside club were among the highest-scoring sides during the 2025/2026 campaign, scoring sixty three goals to place fourth in the Premier League scoring charts. They averaged 1.7 goals and 4.6 shots on target per match, converting 10.7% of those efforts into goals.
They conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game, resulting in one of the worst defensive records among the top sides, placing thirteenth for that statistic during the 2025/2026 season, after conceding fifty three goals.
For clean sheets, the Reds finished joint seventh alongside Brentford and Brighton, with all three clubs recording ten shutouts across thirty eight matches. Liverpool also averaged 2.6 saves per match over the campaign.
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili during the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Friday May 15, 2026. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)
Tale of the tape
Liverpool finished fifth and qualified for the Champions League in what was a disappointing campaign overal for the defending champions, for a multitude of reasons.Sunderland took a point away from Anfield in December 2025 and in all honesty, should’ve won in the final few seconds.
However, a heroic goalline clearance from Cody Gakpo spared the Reds’ blushes and during the return fixture at the Stadium of Light, Liverpool edged a narrow and cagey affair with a 0-1 victory.
This is a historic fixture that dates back to the 1890s, when Sunderland were reigning champions of England and Liverpool were a newly-promoted side.The Reds can be dangerous if they’re given enough space, but one of their weaknesses is being closed down on the flanks and being dispossessed in dangerous areas.
Sunderland must play the free-flowing attacking football we saw against York City on 18 July.
Obviously, it’s only a pre-season friendly so the result doesn’t matter, but I’d like to see our red and white wizards produce the magic we witnessed throughout the 2025/2026 campaign against our fellow Premier League opponents this coming Saturday.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Chemsdine Talbi of Sunderland celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates Wilson Isidor, Noah Sadiki and Nordi Mukiele during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)