Liverpool vs Sunderland prediction 25.07.2026 | Club Friendly

Liverpool begin their pre-season schedule in Nashville as they prepare for the new Premier League campaign under Spanish boss Andoni Iraola. 

A disappointing defence of their Premier League title cost former boss Arne Slot his job, as the Reds laboured to a fifth-placed finish.

Defensive lapses proved a recurring theme for Liverpool. The English giants conceded at least one goal in all but two of their last 17 competitive fixtures. 

Head coach Iraola has four players unavailable this week. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Hugo Ekitike and Stefan Bajcetic are all ruled out through injury.

Liverpool’s USA tour also includes fixtures against Wrexham and Leeds, so Iraola is likely to use this opener to assess several members of his squad rather than start his strongest XI for 90 minutes.

Sunderland continue their pre-season preparations with a challenging friendly against the Premier League champions.

The Black Cats made their return to action with a comfortable 5:1 win against York last weekend Enzo Le Fée bagged a brace  as Sunderland eased to victory at York Community Stadium. 

Regis Le Bris’s side enjoyed a superb campaign last season after returning to the top flight, with a seventh-place finish good enough to secure a return to European football for the first time since 1973.

The Black Cats were competitive in both meetings with Liverpool last season, securing a 1:1 draw at Anfield before suffering a narrow 1:0 home defeat in February.

Like Liverpool, clean sheets proved largely elusive for Sunderland in the latter part of their season. Le Bris’s men conceded at least one goal in nine of their last 11 matches, with five of their seven most recent games finishing with BTTS.

The French boss has just one confirmed injury absence this week. Romaine Mundle is ruled out with a hamstring injury.