The Premier League takes over Chicago tonight as Liverpool face Leeds in a pre-season friendly at Soldier Field. Under new head coach Andoni Iraola, the Reds are on a roll having recorded win over both Sunderland and Wrexham in Nashville and New York City respectively, and will look to conclude their USA summer tour on a positive note as preparations for the new campaign continues.
Iraola has confirmed a triple selection boost for Liverpool with Ryan Gravenberch, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz set to play 45 minutes each in Illinois after joining up with the squad late this summer because of the World Cup. Summer signing Jeremy Jacquet is absent once again though, further highlighting a central defensive crisis as Joe Gomez is facing up to a month on the sidelines with a muscle injury sustained against Sunderland a week ago.
Leeds, meanwhile, bounced back from defeat to Wrexham by beating the Black Cats last time out and can turn to a former Red in Harry Wilson as they bid to extend their unbeaten run in this fixture to three games. Follow Liverpool vs Leeds LIVE below with Standard Sport's dedicated match blog.
Liverpool vs Leeds latest news
- Liverpool CONFIRMED XI: Wirtz and Isak start
- Kick-off: 9pm BST | Soldier Field
- How to watch: All Red Video
- Standard Sport prediction
Bradley Barcola to Liverpool latest
20:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Liverpool have been handed a huge boost in their transfer pursuit of Bradley Barcola.
The Reds have made the young winger their top target this summer after they missed out Yan Diomande, who is set to join Real Madrid in a deal worth of €100million.
As such, it has forced Andoni Iraola and the Anfield hierarchy to look elsewhere as they seek to strengthen their wide areas.
Leeds in pre-season
20:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Like Liverpool, Leeds' two pre-season fixtures to date have come against Wrexham and Sunderland.
Leeds were beaten by the Championship side, albeit with a youthful team, but did record a 1-0 win over the Black Cats.
Team news reminder
20:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Here is how both teams will line-up for tonight's pre-season friendly.
Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, Frimpong, Nyoni, Chambers, Morrison, Ngumoha, Ndukwe
Substitutes: Woodman, Davies, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Abe, Ramsay, Scanlon, McConnell, Koumas, Ndiaye, Wright, Sonni-Lambie.
Leeds XI: Cairns; Bogle, Gudmundsson, Muharemovic, Rodon, Justin; Ampadu, Tanaka, Stach; James, Nmecha.
Substitutes: Mahady, Ombang, Lane, Lienou, Cresswell, Bornauw, Crew, Longstaff, Aaronson, Gnoto, Pickles Wilson, Chadwick, Mills, Calvert-Lewin, Piroe
Fan reaction: Liverpool team confusion
20:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
I can’t be the only one who doesn’t understand the lineup. 😂😭
— Rare W (@eramiegbami) August 2, 2026
Fan thoughts: Wirtz and Isak link-up
20:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
ready for Wirtz and Isak linkup pic.twitter.com/gLtahQb4bA
— Gravvy 🇲🇽 (@coutixszn) August 2, 2026
Fan reaction: Liverpool to score four
20:22 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Looking at this line up what’s stopping Liverpool from scoring 4 against Leeds United tonight
— Kwabena🥷 (@_Kwabena_Kodua) August 2, 2026
With Isak, Wirtz and Szoboszlai scoring pic.twitter.com/1g5bfdVI1E
Iraola reveals Isak and Wirtz plan
20:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Andoni Iraola has confirmed the plan is for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to play the first half against Leeds.
And then for Ryan Gravenberch to play the second half.
He said: “We want to play them for 45 minutes… they are not fully ready but it’s their first step.
“We need to get them going as soon as possible.”
Leeds team analysed
20:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
No Lucas Perri for Leeds once again, meaning Alex Cairns continues in between the posts.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is on the bench, as is Brenden Aaronson and former Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson.
Liverpool team analysed
20:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz make their first appearances of the summer in the final game of the Liverpool's USA tour.
Ryan Gravenberch is on the bench at Soldier Field, while there is no place in the squad at all for Jeremy Jacquet.
Looks like it will be a central defensive pairing of Luke Chambers and Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
Leeds team in full
20:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Leeds XI: Cairns; Bogle, Gudmundsson, Muharemovic, Rodon, Justin; Ampadu, Tanaka, Stach; James, Nmecha.
Substitutes: Mahady, Ombang, Lane, Lienou, Cresswell, Bornauw, Crew, Longstaff, Aaronson, Gnoto, Pickles Wilson, Chadwick, Mills, Calvert-Lewin, Piroe
Liverpool team in full
20:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, Frimpong, Nyoni, Chambers, Morrison, Ngumoha, Ndukwe
Substitutes: Woodman, Davies, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Abe, Ramsay, Scanlon, McConnell, Koumas, Ndiaye, Wright, Sonni-Lambie.
CONFIRMED LEEDS TEAM NEWS
19:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Lining up for Leeds...
📋 Your #LUFC XI... pic.twitter.com/on9IyLh6Oj
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 2, 2026
CONFIRMED LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS
19:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Here is the Liverpool team that Andoni Iraola has selected for tonight's pre-season friendly...
Our team to take on Leeds United 🙌
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 2, 2026
Watch the game LIVE on All Red Video:
Setting the scene
19:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Anticipation is building in Chicago 😁 pic.twitter.com/WaQ5GiaSlF
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 2, 2026
Liverpool vs Leeds LIVE - team news imminent
19:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The teams will be announced shortly!
Stay tuned...
Andoni Iraola issues Joe Gomez injury update
19:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Joe Gomez is set to miss the start of the Premier League season, Andoni Iraola has revealed.
Gomez suffered a muscular injury less than ten minutes into Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly of the summer against Sunderland and will not feature again in pre-season.
Liverpool braced for new Curtis Jones bid
19:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Inter Milan are preparing to make a third approach for Curtis Jones days after footage of the midfielder arguing with his Liverpool team-mates went viral.
The Nerazzurri have been weighing up a move for Jones throughout the summer and, per The Athletic, saw a €25million (£21.7m) bid rejected in June before then seeing a €32m offer also rejected.
Liverpool have informed the club they are hoping to land a fee closer to €40m (£34.3m).
And Inter are prepared to come again with a fresh offer for the midfielder. They are said to have contacted Liverpool via intermediaries to express an interest in bidding around €35m.
The offer is still well short of Liverpool’s valuation, which is thought to be based on the fee Tottenham paid for Conor Gallagher in January.
Arrival
19:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Liverpool have arrived at Soldier Field ahead of tonight's pre-season friendly against Leeds United.
All set at Soldier Field 📌 pic.twitter.com/B0WbvOjR48
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 2, 2026
Liverpool in Chicago
19:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
After touching down in Chicago, the Liverpool squad paid a visit to the home of the Chicago Bulls.
Predicted Liverpool XI
19:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Andoni Iraola has rotated significantly in each game so far, only starting Giorgi Mamardashvili and Harvey Elliot in both.
Right-back Jeremie Frimpong is likely to come back in for Calvin Ramsay, while Jeremy Jacquet could feature from the start alongside one of academy graduates Luke Chambers, Ifeanyi Ndukwe or Talla Ndiaye at the centre of defence.
Predicted Liverpool XI vs Leeds (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Jacquet, Ndiaye, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Abe; Isak
Liverpool on red alert as World Cup star 'hands in transfer request'
19:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Liverpool have been handed a big boost in their reported pursuit of Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
The Reds are in the market for a new winger after the departure of Mohamed Salah, who left Anfield on a free transfer after his contract expired.
Today's settings
19:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Soldier Field hosts tonight's pre-season friendly.
The stadium, which has a capacity of 62,500, was not selected to stage any of the games at the 2026 World Cup earlier in the summer, but is home to MLS side Chicago Fire.
Liverpool vs Leeds latest match odds
19:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Liverpool to win: 6/10
Leeds to win: 4/1
Draw: 18/5
Odds via betting sites (subject to change).
Head to head (h2h) history and results
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Both Premier League meetings ended all square.
A 3-3 draw at Elland Road was followed up with a largely forgettable goalless draw at Anfield to start 2026 for both teams,
Liverpool wins: 63
Leeds wins: 29
Draws: 33
Score prediction
18:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Liverpool have named much-changed teams so far and are still finding their rhythm, but have still recorded two wins out of two so far.
They should beat a Leeds side who are weaker on paper, but still boast strong attacking talent in the form of Nmecha and Wilson.
Liverpool to win, 1-0.
Leeds team news
18:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Harry Wilson is expected to play some part against his former club after joining Leeds earlier in the summer.
Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach are set to return in midfield, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin may have to settle for a place on the bench after returning to training following a small setback.
Liverpool team news: Trio to feature
18:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Ryan Gravenberch, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool's training camp in the USA last weekend and are in line to feature against Leeds.
Andoni Iraola said: "With Florian, Ryan and Alex, they’ve been the ones arriving late.
“I think we’ve been cautious in terms of giving them the time to reach to the level where the others are, because they’ve been training for two weeks before them, but my idea is that the three of them will play the last game against Leeds.
“Probably we’ll have to restrict their minutes. We still have another three weeks before the start of the season where they will play more, we can push them more.
“But I think we need them to start as soon as possible because sometimes they have to make the mistakes now, so we can have time to correct them.”
How to watch Liverpool vs Leeds
18:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
TV channel and live stream: In the UK, the game will be televised live on All Red Video, Liverpool’s in-house video streaming service.
All of Liverpool’s pre-season fixtures will be broadcast via All Red Video, which requires a membership. An annual subscription costs £42.99.
Live coverage: You can follow all the action right here via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Liverpool vs Leeds LIVE
18:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Leeds!
Preparations for the new season continues in Chicago tonight with an all-Premier League showdown.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here ahead of kick-off, which comes at 9pm BST from Soldier Field. Stick with us!
