Liverpool vs Sunderland LIVE: Kick-off Time, TV Channel, Streaming Link, Team News & Real-Time Score Updates

NASHVILLE – Liverpool step into the Andoni Iraola era tonight when they face Premier League surprise package Sunderland in their first pre-season friendly at GEODIS Park. Kick-off is 11 pm BST (5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT), with live coverage on LFCTV and SAFC Live, plus global streaming via All Red Video for most territories. Confirmed line-ups • Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Gomez (c), Talla Ndiaye, Tsimikas; Jones, McConnell; Elliott, Morrison, Ngumoha; Wright. • Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Ellborg; Mukiele, Ballard, Hume, Reinildo Mandava; O’Nien (c), Rigg; Browne, Le Fée, Mundle; Isidor. Storylines to watch 1. Iraola’s imprint – The Basque coach is expected to debut his trademark high press and inverted full-backs, handing first senior minutes to academy duo Reece Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni from the bench. 2. Joe Gomez captaincy audition – With Virgil van Dijk still on holiday, Gomez wears the armband and could stake a claim to become permanent vice-captain. 3. Teenage battle – Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott (23) meets Sunderland prodigy Chris Rigg (18), whose breakthrough season fuelled the Black Cats’ surprise eighth-place finish last term. 4. New faces – Georgian keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili debuts for the Reds, while £22 m playmaker Enzo Le Fée orchestrates Sunderland after arriving from Lorient. 5. Hot-weather fitness test – Temperatures above 30 °C are forecast in Tennessee, so expect wholesale changes on the hour as both bosses chase intensity without risking injuries. Head-to-head & recent form Liverpool edged the last competitive meeting 1-0 at the Stadium of Light in February thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s header, but Sunderland have won three of their past four summer outings. The Merseysiders ended 2025-26 with a patchy run (W1 D2 L2) that cost them Champions League football, adding pressure to hit the ground running. What a win means • Liverpool – A statement start that calms nerves before tougher U.S. fixtures against Inter Miami and New York City. • Sunderland – Proof their upward curve under Régis Le Bris can translate outside England and a marketing boost ahead of their stateside supporter initiative. How to follow Minute-by-minute text, in-game stats and post-match interviews will be available on BBC Sport, This Is Anfield and Sunderland’s official channels, while social hashtags #LFCUSA and #SAFCStateside will surface exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Expect fireworks in Music City as two high-energy managers unleash youthful squads and fresh tactics—the perfect appetiser for the 2026-27 Premier League season.