Liverpool’s 0-0 draw against Como at their training ground is not a game that will be remembered, but it did give a few hints at how Andoni Iraola could use his squad.
It would be wise not to glean too much from a 70-minute pre-season outing at the AXA Training Centre which didn’t feature several of Liverpool’s key players.
However, the friendly did tell us some tidbits about where Liverpool are up to in their preparation for the season ahead.
• Alexis Mac Allister was surprisingly sharp
Yes, this was a relatively low-intensity game to be dropped into, but for his first outing of pre-season, Mac Allister looked surprisingly ready.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister ties his boot lace before 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 Alexis Mac Allister ties his boot lace before 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)
Given that it is less than a month since he played 120 minutes in the World Cup final, the Argentine kept up with play comfortably and was Liverpool’s deepest-lying midfielder against Como.
Of course, we can’t get too carried away by a pre-season performance, but if Mac Allister can continue the improvement from last season that he showed at the World Cup, Iraola could have something to work with.
• Liverpool’s shape will not be rigid
The brightest element of Liverpool’s pre-season has been the link-up play on display between Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, the latter playing just behind the striker.
Without him in the team, though, Liverpool reverted to a more ‘traditional’ midfield three, with James McConnell actually further forward than Mac Allister and Trey Nyoni when building from the back.
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It is a sign that Iraola will adapt to the abilities of the players at his disposal rather than insisting on a system that perhaps won’t work without the quality of Wirtz.
• Liverpool’s youngsters have a point to prove
Having been largely left on the sidelines last season, whether that be at the academy or out on loan, Liverpool have a crop of young players eager to prove they can play a part for the first team.
Lewis Koumas immediately made an impact with his energy and physicality off the bench, while Will Wright and Kieran Morrison also helped improve Liverpool’s pressing in the final third.
Luke Chambers once again looked assured as a makeshift centre-half, and Calvin Ramsay did himself no harm with a right-back showing that saw him deal with tricky winger Assane Diao.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Lewis Koumas during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. Monaco won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Lewis Koumas during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. Monaco won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
• Harvey Elliott should not be a right-winger at Liverpool
We can’t really say this has been newly learned from Liverpool’s match against Como – we have known it for a while – but the goalless draw really did show why Elliott shouldn’t be a realistic option out wide for the Reds.
There were occasions on which Iraola could be heard asking Elliott to stay wide after the natural attacking midfielder drifted inside to get involved.
This isn’t necessarily a fault of the player – and it doesn’t matter too much in pre-season – but Liverpool really need to get wingers through the door if they are to back Iraola properly.
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates with team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai (R) after scoring the first goal during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Football – FA Premier League – Liverpool FC v Brentford FC
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister 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)