Kevin Keegan died at the age of 75 this week.
Liverpool and Sunderland will pay tribute to Kevin Keegan ahead of their pre-season friendly on Saturday, with both teams set to wear black armbands and hold a minute’s applause before kick-off, according to BBC Sport.
Keegan passed away at the age of 75 earlier this week. It was announced in January that the former England player and manager had been diagnosed with stage four cancer, with his family confirming he was due to begin treatment.
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Regarded as one of the finest players of his generation, Keegan made nearly 750 club appearances, won three First Division titles with Liverpool and claimed the Ballon d’Or in consecutive years in 1978 and 1979 while playing for Hamburg.
He enjoyed a trophy-laden six-year spell at Liverpool, winning three league titles, the European Cup, two UEFA Cups and the FA Cup. Keegan later joined Newcastle United as a player in 1982 before returning as manager in 1992.
A new era begins for Liverpool this summer as Andoni Iraola takes charge of his first pre-season match against Sunderland.
The Spaniard will begin his tenure without several key players, with Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate leaving at the end of last season.
Liverpool and Sunderland will head to the United States for their pre-season tour, where they will also face Leeds United and Wrexham.
The Reds will then return to Anfield for friendlies against Monaco and Como before starting their Premier League campaign. Sunderland began their preparations with a 5-1 victory over York City, with Enzo Le Fée scoring twice.
Liverpool and Newcastle United are also in discussions over a tribute to Keegan ahead of their Premier League opener at St James’ Park.
Keegan remains a legendary figure at both clubs, having enjoyed iconic spells as a player at Liverpool and as both player and manager at Newcastle.
The two clubs will face each other in the opening match of their 2026-27 Premier League season on Sunday, August 23.
Kevin Keegan
Sunderland