Countdown to Kick-Off: Liverpool’s Pre-Season Fixtures and What to Watch For | OneFootball

Liverpool are preparing for an important season under Arne Slot as they seek to retain the Premier League title in his second year in charge.

The Dutchman will have a chance to showcase his plans for the next 12 months during pre-season, which has become an increasingly important time on the football calendar.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the matches the Reds will play during pre-season and what the fans should look for during these games.

The odds for those fixtures are already available on some crypto sports betting sites. These allow gamers to make wagers on outcomes before the match starts, and also during, with live odds changing as events unfold on the field.

A Sombre Start: Preston North End (July 13)

Liverpool’s pre-season started with a heavy heart for Reds fans against Preston last Sunday. The match itself mightn’t live long in the memory, but the tributes to the late Diogo Jota made it a memorable and touching occasion.

Amid the sombre atmosphere at Deepdale, LFC prevailed with a 3-1 victory in which Conor Bradley opened the scoring, Darwin Núñez scored the second and Cody Gakpo added another goal late on to secure the win. However, years from now, everyone will remember the tributes to Diogo and not the final score.

(Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

AC Milan in Hong Kong (July 26)

The first match of Liverpool’s short Asian tour will be against AC Milan. It will also be the first game ever played at the newly-built Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. Betting experts, such as the ones from CryptoManiaks, have had their eyes on this match in particular, as the two teams are evenly matched and the odds keep changing.

Those focused on tactics are especially interested in how Slot will rotate the squad and how they will be able to adapt to the opposition and the inevitable humidity in the Far East.

Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan (July 30)

The second match of Liverpool’s Asian tour will be against Yokohama F. Marinos. It’s expected to be a enjoyable occasion given that it’s a friendly and that the Japanese club has a strong fan base which should provide a great experience.

Anfield Double Header: Athletic Bilbao (August 4)

Liverpool will return to Anfield for a unique pre-season event as they partake in a double header of friendlies against Athletic Bilbao. Both games will be played on the same evening (at 5pm and 8pm). It provides a rare opportunity for Slot to try out two completely different strategies and squads, side by side.

It will be a day for young talent to shine in at least in one of those two games, with a blend of prodigious youngsters like Rio Ngumoha and established high-profile names such as new signing Florian Wirtz.

(Photo by Barrington Coombs/Getty Images)

Community Shield: Crystal Palace at Wembley (August 10)

Liverpool’s pre-season ends with a match against Crystal Palace at Wembley. Technically, the Community Shield isn’t a part of pre-season, as it’s a competitive fixture and a chance to win silverware before the campaign proper gets underway.

The match will mostly be used to judge the physical fitness of both teams and how focused the Reds will be after a few matches abroad. It’s expected that Slot will go out with a strong line-up and seek to win a trophy right at the start of 2025/26.

What to look out for in pre-season for Liverpool

There are a few things to take note of during these pre-season matches which’ll provide a telling insight into how Liverpool could perform when the campaign proper starts. These include:

In conclusion

Liverpool are preparing for another busy campaign, and a few matches in pre-season will be a great testing ground for the new-look side. These games will include friendlies in the Far East and, for the second summer in a row, a double header in one day at Anfield.

Fans looking to gauge the season’s potential will likely focus on the team’s results, how they adapt to Slot’s tactics, and the depth of the squad, particularly in developing young talent.