Venue: Anfield, Liverpool (Pre-Season Friendly)
Match Preview - A Potential Blockbuster in the Making
Liverpool and Wrexham meet again in a pre-season friendly that promises plenty of spice. Two years after their Pittsburgh clash, the Reds host the Red Dragons at Anfield. This time, the stakes feel higher.
Last Time Out (July 2024)
July 24, 2024. Pittsburgh. Liverpool won 2 - 0. Glatzel and Elliott scored. Slot rested Salah, Van Dijk, Alisson. Wrexham fielded nearly their strongest XI - Mullin, Fletcher - but couldn’t breach the defence. Routine scoreline? Sure. But Wrexham left with pride.
What’s Changed Since Then?
A lot has changed. Liverpool are two seasons deeper into the Slot era, with Champions League football now a given. They added serious firepower: Hugo Liguori arrived from Lyon in 2025. Youngsters have matured into regulars.
Wrexham? Not the League Two underdogs anymore. Back-to-back promotions lifted them from the National League to League One. They want to make noise. Hollywood ownership invested smartly. Forward Luke Armstrong, signed from Carlisle in July 2025, gives them a physical edge. This team isn’t coming to Anfield just to make up numbers.
The gap has closed. Slightly. Enough to make this a genuine test for both sides.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Liverpool’s 2026 Squad - New Stars, Same Ambition
Slot built a team that blends relentless pressing with technical control. The 2026 edition is younger, hungrier, still packed with world-class talent. Key updates:
- Alisson remains the undisputed No.1, but backup Caoimhin Kelleher could start as Slot rotates.
- Jarell Quansah has cemented himself as Van Dijk’s long-term centre-back partner.
- Harvey Elliott is now a midfield mainstay - no longer just a prospect. He’ll likely captain the side with senior stars absent.
- New signing Hugo Liguori (from Lyon, 2025) adds creativity and drive in central midfield.
- Up front, Ben Doak has emerged as a genuine wing threat, while Darwin Núñez still leads the line with his chaotic brilliance.
Predicted Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van den Berg, Tsimikas; Jones, Liguori, Elliott; Doak, Núñez, Diaz.
Wrexham’s League One Rise - Armstrong Leading the Line
Phil Parkinson’s side has evolved. The old guard - Mullin, Lee, Palmer - are still around, but now the team has depth. Luke Armstrong, signed from Carlisle last summer, gives them a target man who can hold up the ball and finish. He’s already scored 15 goals in League One.
Another key addition: midfielder Josh Adams (from Bristol Rovers) brings energy and box-to-box running. The defence stays solid with Eoghan O’Connell and Max Cleworth.
Predicted Wrexham XI (3-5-2): Okonkwo; Cleworth, O’Connell, Boyle; Barnett, Evans, Adams, Lee, McClean; Mullin, Armstrong.
Prediction - Underdogs Bite or Routine Reds Win?
Key Battles to Watch
- Ben Doak vs Ryan Barnett: Doak’s pace and directness meet Barnett’s physicality on the right flank. A mismatch on paper, but Barnett loves a battle.
- Luke Armstrong vs Jarell Quansah: Armstrong’s physical presence versus Quansah’s composure. If Wrexham get service to Armstrong, he could cause problems.
- Harvey Elliott vs Elliot Lee: Two creative engine rooms. Whoever dictates the tempo likely decides the result.
Scoreline Verdict - No Shock in Store?
Liverpool are the stronger side, no doubt. But Wrexham are no pushovers. The Reds want to build fitness, not blow teams away inside 20 minutes. Expect a tight start, then open up as substitutes flood on.
Wrexham will have chances - especially from set pieces. But Liverpool’s sheer quality in the final third should tell.
Prediction: Liverpool 3 - 1 Wrexham
Armstrong grabs a consolation for the visitors. Goals from Núñez, Elliott, and a Liguori stunner seal a comfortable win. Wrexham leave Anfield with heads held high. The Reds march on towards the Premier League season.
What do you think, Reds and Dragons fans? Drop your score predictions below!
For more pre-season coverage, check out our Liverpool 2026/27 season preview and Wrexham’s League One ambitions: Can they push for the Championship?. Also read: Arne Slot’s tactical evolution at Liverpool and The rise of Luke Armstrong: From Carlisle to League One star.
Statistics sourced from BBC Sport and Sky Sports (historical 2024 match data used for context).
