NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola (L) and first team coach Tommy Elphick during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola (L) and first team coach Tommy Elphick during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
August is a big month for Liverpool as Andoni Iraola guides the Reds from pre-season into the Premier League, while the transfer window comes to a climax.
“I particularly hate this month,” Iraola said of August.
“You start the competition, you still don’t know if some of the players are going to leave, who is going to come, there is a lot of uncertainty. It’s difficult to build a proper team with a lot of question marks.”
He is talking sense here, but that doesn’t mean supporters can’t look forward to the campaign ahead.
There is something about the unknown that makes football fans giddy; opening day is like Christmas morning.
Here’s a look at what Liverpool will be unwrapping as the season gets underway.
August 2 – Leeds (Chicago)
CHICAGO, USA - Saturday, July 26, 2014: Liverpool players during a preseason training session at the Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago on day six of the club's USA Tour. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Saturday, July 26, 2014: Liverpool players during a preseason training session at the Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago on day six of the club's USA Tour. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Having faced Sunderland in Nashville and Wrexham in New York, Liverpool complete their US tour with a friendly against Leeds at the famous Soldier Field in Chicago.
There should be a bigger audience than in the previous two games, given Iraola has already said this will be a chance for Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Ryan Gravenberch and “even Jeremy Jacquet” to get their first minutes of pre-season.
Kick-off is also at a more palatable time for those watching on Merseyside, with the match getting underway at 9pm (BST) on LFCTV, or ESPN for US viewers.
August 9 – Monaco (H)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa celebrates with team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai (R) after scoring the third goal during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa celebrates with team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai (R) after scoring the third goal during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The first chance for Liverpool fans to see Iraola and his team on Merseyside comes two weeks before the season starts.
By this point, Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Alisson should all be involved and we should see a side closer to the one that will face Newcastle on the opening day.
August 16 – Como 1907 (H) x2
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: A general view from the Spion Kop before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: A general view from the Spion Kop before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In an Anfield double-header, Liverpool will face Cesc Fabregas’ Champions League qualifiers, Como 1907, twice on the same day.
First, there will be a behind-closed-doors game at 12pm, before supporters are allowed in for the following match at 6pm.
Fans can still watch both games, though, because they will be shown on LFCTV via All Red Video.
August 23 – Newcastle (A)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Finally, about seven weeks after the first Liverpool players return to Kirkby, the Reds will get the new Iraola era underway with a trip to St James’ Park.
Kicking off at 4.30pm (BST), they will play Newcastle on Sunday, August 23, with the match broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Before the match there will be tributes paid to the late Kevin Keegan, who was a legend at both clubs.
He won seven major trophies with Liverpool, before later playing for Newcastle and becoming one of their most-loved managers.
August 27 – Champions League draw
NYON, SWITZERLAND - AUGUST 5: A view of the draw balls ahead of the UEFA Champions League, 2024/25 Play-offs Round Draw at the UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on August 5, 2024 in Nyon, Switzerland (Photo by Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
NYON, SWITZERLAND - AUGUST 5: A view of the draw balls ahead of the UEFA Champions League, 2024/25 Play-offs Round Draw at the UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on August 5, 2024 in Nyon, Switzerland (Photo by Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Liverpool will learn their Champions League league phase opponents on August 27, with the first match to follow two weeks later.
The Reds will be in Pot 1 for the draw, alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Man City, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
We do not yet have a complete lineup for the draw because the qualifying rounds are yet to be completed, but we do know that Liverpool will face two sides from each of Pots 1, 2, 3 and 4, playing one at home and one away.
August 29 – Forest (H)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker 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 goalkeeper Alisson Becker 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)
Despite the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, Anfield should host an excited crowd as Iraola takes charge of his first competitive Liverpool game at home.
Nottingham Forest have beaten Liverpool at Anfield in both of the last two seasons, but the Reds did take three points from the City Ground in February, thanks to Alexis Mac Allister‘s late goal.
Liverpool lost six and drew six at home last season, a record that simply can’t be repeated if Iraola is to get the fans onside.
Time to make Anfield a difficult place to play football again.
Sep 1 – Transfer deadline day
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Friday, July 5, 2024: Liverpool's new head coach Arne Slot (L) and Sporting Director Richard Hughes (R) are presented at a photo call at the club's AXA Training Centre. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Friday, July 5, 2024: Liverpool's new head coach Arne Slot (L) and Sporting Director Richard Hughes (R) are presented at a photo call at the club's AXA Training Centre. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
OK, so the transfer window technically closes in September, shutting at 11pm on the first of the month, but most of Liverpool’s business should be done in the days and weeks leading up to that date.
Hopefully, Bradley Barcola and others will be through the door by the time the season starts, to allow them to bed in without being rushed.
Liverpool fixtures in August
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk 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 captain Virgil van Dijk 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)
First Team
Leeds (Chicago) – Friendly – Sun, Aug 2, 9pm (BST)
Monaco (H) – Friendly – Sun, Aug 9, 2.30pm
Como 1907 (H) – Friendly – Sun, Aug 19, 12pm
Como 1907 (H) – Friendly – Sun, Aug 19, 6pm
Forest (H) – PL – Sat, Aug 29, 12.30pm
LFC Women
Leicester (Melwood) – Friendly – Sat, Aug 15, 2pm
Birmingham (A) – Friendly – Wed, Aug 18, 2pm
Man United (A) – Friendly – Sun, Aug 23, 12pm
Durham (H) – Friendly – Sun, Aug 30, 2pm
Chelsea corner flag – Chelsea said in a statement they welcomed recognition from the Premier League of their exceptional co-operation (Nick Potts/PA)
Chelsea corner flag – Chelsea said in a statement they welcomed recognition from the Premier League of their exceptional co-operation (Nick Potts/PA)