Liverpool is taking on fellow Premier League side Sunderland in a pre-season friendly, with Andoni Iraola naming his first Reds starting XI at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee
21:46, 25 Jul 2026Updated 21:51, 25 Jul 2026
Andoni Iraola and Jeremie Frimpong before a Liverpool training session.
Andoni Iraola and Jeremie Frimpong before a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has named his first Liverpool starting XI as the Reds take on Sunderland at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is in goal with Jeremie Frimpong, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas making up the backline. James McConnell, Curtis Jones and Kieran Morrison are in midfield, with Harvey Elliott, Will Wright and Rio Ngumoha comprising the attack against familiar opposition in Premier League Sunderland.
Liverpool starting XI vs Sunderland: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Ndiaye, Gomez, Tsimikas; McConnell, Jones; Elliott, Morrison, Ngumoha; Wright.
Several big names are still missing from pre-season thanks to their international exertions. Victor Munoz and Alexis Mac Allister, who reached the World Cup final, will be afforded the most time off.
Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Cody Gakpo will rejoin the group after the US tour, while Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch are flying out this weekend and could feature in matches against Wrexham and Leeds.
Jeremy Jacquet is missing because of a precaution. Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa, Milos Kerkez and Trey Nyoni are among the substitutes.
Liverpool also has plenty of work left to do in the transfer market. A winger and a defender capable of filling in at center-back and right-back would be ideal, with more additions potentially required if others leave.
"It's good to be back in the US," Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan told club media.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session in Chicago, Illinois.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session in Chicago, Illinois.(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"Obviously, we were here two years ago. The team’s just arriving here in Nashville and with our new head coach, Andoni [Iraola], in charge. A couple of years ago we were here to play three matches; we’re going to do the same again this trip.
"It’s kind of our responsibility as one of the biggest clubs in the world to bring the club out to our supporters, and that’s a big part of why we come on tour.
"But as you said, this is the pre-season and make no mistake about it, this is about putting the foundations in place for the long season ahead, as Andoni said in his comments.
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"So, the team is working really, really hard. One of the great things about coming to the US is that the facilities that we’re able to either train in or play in are tremendous.
"So, the match here tomorrow in Nashville, playing Yankee Stadium in New York and then playing in Chicago next Sunday. We’re training actually at the Chicago Fire’s training center, which is a brand new facility, so thank you to them for allowing us to use their pitches and facilities.
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"A terrific opportunity, but yeah, make no mistake, the guys are working really hard, as you’ve probably seen from the videos. And that’s really what it’s all about: getting the guys in shape."