Andoni Iraola will manage Liverpool at Anfield for the first time as his side welcomes Monaco for their penultimate friendly of pre-season.
Liverpool experienced mixed fortunes in their tour of the United States, which saw them beat Sunderland and Wrexham before enduring a dismal capitulation against Leeds in their final outing, surrendering a two-goal lead in the second half to lose 4-2 to their Premier League rivals.
Iraola will hope to take key lessons from that match into his Anfield bow against the Ligue 1 side, two weeks out from their season opener at Newcastle.
The Spaniard now has almost his full squad at his disposal after the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Cody Gakpo returned from their post-World Cup breaks, while new signing Victor Munoz could also be in line for a debut after being named on the bench.
Follow the latest updates from Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Monaco in our live blog below:
The teams are out
The teams are out, and we’re getting our first You’ll Never Walk Alone of the season.
Closing in on kick-off!
The players are lining up in the tunnel – we are just moments away from getting underway!
We’ll bring you all the action from Anfield.
When do Liverpool start the season?
This is Liverpool’s penultimate pre-season friendly before their competitive season begins.
They return to Anfield for a double-header against Como (one of which is behind closed doors), before their Premier League campaign kicks off away to Newcastle on Sunday 23 August.
Takumi Minamino returns to Anfield
Fan favourite Takumi Minamino is back at Anfield – even though his recovery from a serious knee injury means he can’t play today.
The Japanese international became something of a cult hero at Liverpool, especially after numerous clutch moments in cup competitions.
Paul Pogba back on enemy territory
Paul Pogba is back at Anfield, a place he will remember as enemy territory from his days as a Manchester United manager.
His career was derailed by a doping ban that later lifted, and he has subsequently spent the last season or so at Monaco.
He’s been out warming up with his team-mates – but he’s not in the matchday squad.
The Frenchman has been trotting around the Anfield pitch with two other big names absent from the team-sheet in Ansu Fati and the infamous Folarin Balogun, who (through no fault of his own) was the centre of the biggest scandal of the World Cup.
Victor Munoz in line for debut
New signing Victor Munoz is in the Liverpool squad for the first time after returning from his post-World Cup break.
The Spaniard starts on the bench, but will likely get at least half an hour of football as Andoni Iraola rotates heavily after the break.
Monaco team news
Filipe Luis starts a strong side against Liverpool, which includes a man who has often been amongst a Reds transfer rumour mill in Lamine Camara.
Former Spurs defender Eric Dier also starts at centre-back, while Arsenal academy product Mika Biereth leads the line.
Monaco XI: Hradecky; Vanderson, Sane, Dier, Nazinho; Camara, Cabral; Abline, Golovin, Detourbet; Biereth.
