Andoni Iraola is expected to name two Liverpool XIs for their opening pre-season friendly vs. Sunderland – and the head coach could field a strong starting lineup.
Liverpool kick off pre-season with a friendly against Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday, as the first of three clashes on their USA tour.
It marks the start of the Iraola era and could prove particularly interesting as the new head coach shows his hand for the first time.
While a host of senior players are absent following their involvement at the World Cup and more are sidelined through injury, there is the likelihood of seeing a different XI in each half at Geodis Park.
So how could Iraola set his Liverpool side up vs. Sunderland?
Goalkeepers: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Davies, Hall
Defenders: Gomez, Jacquet, Ndukwe, Ndiaye, Kerkez, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Chambers, Ramsay, Scanlon
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Jones, Elliott, Nyoni, McConnell
Forwards: Ngumoha, Chiesa, Morrison, Wright, Abe, Koumas, Sonni-Lambie
Liverpool predicted XI vs. Sunderland: 11 changes at half-time?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
If Iraola and his medical staff see fit to make 11 changes at the break, it could be that the Spaniard first sets out his strongest possible XI.
Despite the absences a senior core remains and it should see Giorgi Mamardashvili start the first game of pre-season.
He is able to line up behind a back four of Jeremie Frimpong, Jeremy Jacquet, Joe Gomez and Milos Kerkez.
That would allow a solid midfield of Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, with Harvey Elliott in the No. 10 role.
U21s captain Kieran Morrison could then start on the right flank with Rio Ngumoha on the left and Federico Chiesa up front:
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Jacquet, Gomez, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Jones; Morrison, Elliott, Ngumoha; Chiesa
With wholesale changes at the break that could then provide opportunity for the youngsters and fringe players to catch the eye.
Freddie Woodman can be entrusted with duties in goal, with Calvin Ramsay, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Mor Talla Ndiaye and the returning Kostas Tsimikas in defence.
In midfield, both James McConnell and Trey Nyoni will have a point to prove, while Josh Sonni-Lambie can look to continue his impressive start to training in a role further forward.
Josh Abe could then get a first taste of senior football on the right wing, with Lewis Koumas lining up on the opposite flank and Will Wright as No. 9:
Woodman; Ramsay, Ndukwe, Ndiaye, Tsimikas; McConnell, Nyoni; Abe, Sonni-Lambie, Koumas; Wright
That would leave left-backs Luke Chambers and Calum Scanlon in reserve along with goalkeepers Harvey Davies and Bailey Hall.
Given it is the first game of pre-season it will be impossible to draw any definitive verdict on Iraola’s plans from his lineups against Sunderland, but it serves as an exciting first glimpse of his Liverpool setup.
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