Liverpool secured a 3-1 victory over Preston North End in their pre-season opener, with three of their summer recruits making their first appearances for the club.
Supporters witnessed the debuts of three new faces as the Reds began their pre-season schedule in style, defeating Championship side Preston by a two-goal margin.
It was an emotionally charged encounter, as goals from Conor Bradley, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo helped Liverpool honour the memory of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. The pair sadly lost their lives in a recent car crash, and tributes were paid throughout the day.
While the primary focus at Deepdale was on remembering Jota, the match itself offered plenty of intrigue. Despite being Premier League title holders, Liverpool have been proactive in the transfer window, spending a reported £200 million on new arrivals.
Florian Wirtz, the club’s record £100 million signing, did not take part in the fixture. However, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong all featured and gave supporters an early glimpse of what they might bring to the side. Here’s a brief assessment of their debut displays.
Giorgi Mamardashvili
It marked a debut that had been over a year in the making. Liverpool reached an agreement to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili last summer in a deal worth up to £29 million, but part of that arrangement saw him remain at Valencia for the entirety of the 2024–25 campaign.
With Alisson Becker absent from the squad against Preston, Mamardashvili was handed the starting role for the first half. There wasn’t a great deal for the Georgian to contend with, though he did make an impression with his command of the area. On one occasion, he confidently surged off his line to meet a high cross, punching the ball clear with authority—colliding with Conor Bradley in the process. It was a no-nonsense intervention, and even Bradley appeared unfazed.
In possession, Mamardashvili looked assured. He notably delivered a pinpoint long pass that sliced through Preston’s back line and released Federico Chiesa. Had the Italian forward not hesitated with his finish, Mamardashvili might well have registered an assist. All in all, it was a promising first outing.
Milos Kerkez
Kerkez made little effort to conceal his reluctance to join Liverpool, with his social media activity making it one of the worst-kept secrets in football.
Despite Liverpool’s title-winning campaign under Slot, supporters had long called for reinforcements at left-back. While Andy Robertson remains a hugely respected figure at the club, his age—now 31—has led many to believe a younger alternative was necessary to ensure long-term stability in that position.
Kerkez emerged as one of the Premier League’s standout full-backs last season. His dynamic displays were instrumental in Bournemouth’s impressive ninth-place finish, prompting Liverpool to invest £40 million to secure his services. The Hungarian wasted no time making an impression. Coming on in the second half, he immediately showed the same attacking intent he had demonstrated on the south coast.
He linked up well with Cody Gakpo on the left wing and completed every pass he attempted, finishing with a perfect passing record. A surging run won a free-kick deep in Preston’s half, but his most eye-catching moment came from a precisely timed sliding tackle near the halfway line, drawing applause from the crowd.
Jeremie Frimpong
Liverpool’s first signing of the summer will have watched on with full awareness that serious competition awaits him.
Although Jeremie Frimpong was brought in to eventually take over from Trent Alexander-Arnold, he is not yet assured of the starting role. Conor Bradley’s opening goal was a clear reminder that a real contest is underway for the right-back spot heading into the new season.
Frimpong’s arrival has certainly brought excitement, and at £29.5 million, he already appears a shrewd acquisition in today’s inflated market. He had been a standout performer over four and a half years at Bayer Leverkusen.
His debut for Liverpool was solid rather than spectacular. The Dutchman had limited opportunities to push forward. Still, it was his long clearance that ultimately forced Jordan Storey into a weak backpass, which Darwin Nunez pounced on to double Liverpool’s lead.
Frimpong’s standout moment came at the other end of the pitch. When Daniel Jebbison tried to launch a counterattack from midfield, Frimpong used his blistering pace to chase him down and strip the ball away. He came out on top in both of his ground duels—an encouraging sign of what he can bring defensively.
In other news, Paul Heckingbottom Reveals What He Told Arne Slot After Liverpool’s Pre-season Friendly Victory Over Preston North End