Liverpool vs Como: Pre-Season Friendly Stakes and Form Guide
Liverpool’s pre-season takes another intriguing turn when Como arrive at Anfield for a summer friendly, with kick-off set for 16 August 2026 at 11:30. On paper it’s a mismatch in history and global profile. On current form, it’s anything but straightforward.
This isn’t just a tune‑up. It’s a test of rhythm, resilience and early-season identity for both clubs.
Liverpool searching for fluency
Liverpool come into the game with a record that will irritate everyone inside the dressing room: one win, one draw, three defeats from their last five outings.
The numbers tell the story. Ten scored, ten conceded. Open at one end, vulnerable at the other.
Their most recent outing, a 3-2 loss to Monaco on 9 August in a club friendly, underlined the pattern. Liverpool carried a threat going forward, found goals, but leaked too many at the back. Before that, a 4-2 defeat to Leeds United in another pre-season clash raised the same questions. Control. Concentration. Game management.
There have been flashes of what they want to be. A narrow 1-0 win over Wrexham showed they can grind. A 4-2 victory against Sunderland proved they can still overwhelm teams when the front line clicks. Yet the inconsistency across those five games leaves this Como fixture feeling important for momentum, not just minutes.
No official team news has been released. No confirmed injuries, suspensions or even a probable XI have been made public. That uncertainty adds a layer of intrigue. Who gets the nod? Who is being wrapped in cotton wool? And who is fighting for a place when the competitive games begin?
Como arrive with confidence
While Liverpool wrestle with balance, Como arrive in far better spirits.
Three wins, one draw, one defeat from their last five. Eleven goals scored, only seven conceded. A side that knows where the net is and has started to tighten up at the back.
Their most recent result was eye-catching: a 1-1 draw with Arsenal on 12 August. Sharing a scoreline with Premier League opposition is no small marker for a club still building its top-flight credentials. Before that, they edged Famalicao 3-2 and drew 2-2 with Paris FC in pre-season, matches that showcased both their attacking ambition and a willingness to trade blows.
The real foundation, though, came at the end of their Serie A campaign. Como closed last season with back-to-back wins over Cremonese and Parma, results that solidified belief in the dressing room and in the stands. That winning habit has carried into the summer.
As with Liverpool, there is no official team news from Como. No confirmed coach details, no squad list, no fitness updates on record at this stage. It leaves only the form book to guide expectations—and that form book paints Como as a side that will not simply turn up to admire the stadium.
A first look at a new matchup
There is no recent head-to-head data between Liverpool and Como. No historical scorelines to lean on, no old grudges to revive. It’s a clean slate.
That blank page makes this friendly more intriguing. Liverpool, with their global weight and attacking talent, will be expected to dominate the ball at Anfield. Como, buoyed by their recent results and that draw against Arsenal, will see an opportunity to measure themselves against elite opposition and stretch a defence that has looked fragile in pre-season.
With lineups still under wraps and both coaches using these games to experiment, the contest could swing in several directions. Will Liverpool finally marry their goal threat with defensive control? Or will Como’s sharp form and growing confidence expose the same cracks that Monaco and Leeds found?
For a summer friendly, there is a lot riding on the answers.
