- 1 Liverpool vs Como: the Reds’ final test before the real thing
- 2 Liverpool: a sharp attack and a defence that still raises eyebrows
- 3 Como: unbeaten in pre-season and relentlessly watchable
- 4 Football Prediction Liverpool vs Como
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your job
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Liverpool vs Como: the Reds’ final test before the real thing 
Eighteen goals in four pre-season games. That number says plenty about the way Andoni Iraola has started life at Liverpool this summer.
The issue is elsewhere: the Reds have lost their last two matches, against Leeds United and Monaco. In both, they were two goals up before folding.
Against Monaco, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak had put the English side in control. Aleksandr Golovin, Mika Biereth and then Paris Brunner in the 88th minute flipped it on its head.
On the other side, Cesc Fabregas has brought a Como side through pre-season unbeaten. The Italians have two wins and three draws, including a hard-earned 1-1 at the Emirates against Arsenal.
This August 16 fixture is the second part of a double header: the clubs also met behind closed doors several hours earlier, at 11:30. The evening game, at 18:00, is the one open to the public.
It is also Liverpool’s final outing before the new season begins at Newcastle on August 23. A proper test against an opponent heading into the Champions League for the first time this year.
Liverpool and Como had never met before, so the fixture has no history. It still has plenty of interest.
Liverpool: a sharp attack and a defence that still raises eyebrows
The Reds have scored in all four of their friendlies. Goals are not the worry at Anfield.
What has people talking is the two late goals they conceded against Leeds and the comeback Monaco completed. Two two-goal leads thrown away in a row is a habit nobody wants.
The club has already moved in the market, bringing in centre-back Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona. The new number 33 is set for his first appearance at Anfield on August 16.
His partnership with captain Virgil van Dijk already looks like the centre-back pairing Iraola wants to settle on for 2026-27. This one is the dress rehearsal for that duo.
The treatment room is still busy, with Joe Gomez (muscle), Giovanni Leoni (ACL), Jayden Danns (thigh), Hugo Ekitike (Achilles tendon) and Conor Bradley (knee) all out. Five absences that limit the options.
Three returnees help balance that out: Jeremy Jacquet (knee), Curtis Jones (hip) and Alexis Mac Allister have all been seen back in training. The Argentinian comes back after a run to the World Cup final with his national team.
Iraola is expected to keep his big names back for the second meeting, the one played in front of the fans, as he looks to finish pre-season with something close to his strongest XI.
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Como: unbeaten in pre-season and relentlessly watchable 
Five pre-season games, five with goals at both ends. Como have scored 10 and conceded seven this summer.
That appetite for chaos has become the calling card of the Cesc Fabregas project. The team attacks, takes risks and pays for it at times.
The last test backed that up: a 1-1 draw at the Emirates against Arsenal, with Myles Lewis-Skelly gifting one and Martin Baturina levelling. Como then lost on penalties, with Alvaro Morata seeing his effort saved by David Raya.
Take out the shootout and the record stays clean: two wins, three draws, no defeats. That is the Italian case in a nutshell.
There is still a doubt over Nico Paz, seen at the Emirates for the photos but not used against Arsenal. His involvement is still unclear.
At the back, Jacobo Ramon should anchor the defence, while the number nine spot looks more likely to go to Anastasios Douvikas than Morata. Fabregas is also expected to keep some of his stronger starters back for the first meeting.
The club is gearing up for its Champions League debut, which gives this trip to Anfield real value as a marker.
Likely Liverpool XI: Alisson ; Frimpong, Araujo, Van Dijk, Kerkez ; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai ; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo ; Isak
Likely Como XI: Butez ; Couto, Ramon, Kempf, Valle ; Da Cunha, Perrone ; Liberali, Baturina, Diao ; Douvikas
Football Prediction Liverpool vs Como
Our prediction: both teams to score
Como have scored and conceded in all five of their pre-season matches, no exceptions. Liverpool have found the net in all four of theirs and have been punished late by Leeds and Monaco.
Both managers head into the evening game as if it is their last tune-up before the league starts, with line-ups close to their best and no shortage of attacking intent. Araujo gets his first look at Anfield, Van Dijk lines up with a partner he has never played alongside, and that kind of fresh pairing rarely clicks straight away.
Everything from both clubs’ pre-season numbers points to an open game. Both teams should score.
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