Liverpool vs Monaco LIVE: Team news as Van Dijk and Isak start pre-season friendly at Anfield
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Why Andoni Iraola Is PERFECT For LiverpoolAndoni Iraola will manage Liverpool at Anfield for the first time as his side welcomes Monaco for their penultimate friendly of pre-season.Liverpool experienced mixed fortunes in their tour of the United States, which saw them beat Sunderland and Wrexham before enduring a dismal capitulation against Leeds in their final outing, surrendering a two-goal lead in the second half to lose 4-2 to their Premier League rivals.Iraola will hope to take key lessons from that match into his Anfield bow against the Ligue 1 side, two weeks out from their season opener at Newcastle.The Spaniard now has almost his full squad at his disposal after the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Cody Gakpo returned from their post-World Cup breaks, while new signing Victor Munoz could also be in line for a debut after being named on the bench.Follow the latest updates from Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Monaco in our live blog below:Paul Pogba back on enemy territoryPaul Pogba is back at Anfield, a place he will remember as enemy territory from his days as a Manchester United manager.His career was derailed by a doping ban that later lifted, and he has subsequently spent the last season or so at Monaco.He’s been out warming up with his team-mates - but he’s not in the matchday squad. The Frenchman has been trotting around the Anfield pitch with two other big names absent from the team-sheet in Ansu Fati and the infamous Folarin Balogun, who (through no fault of his own) was the centre of the biggest scandal of the World Cup.(Getty)Will Castle9 August 2026 14:15Victor Munoz in line for debutNew signing Victor Munoz is in the Liverpool squad for the first time after returning from his post-World Cup break.The Spaniard starts on the bench, but will likely get at least half an hour of football as Andoni Iraola rotates heavily after the break.Will Castle9 August 2026 14:10Anfield arrivalsWill Castle9 August 2026 14:05Liverpool get warm welcome back to Anfield(PA)(PA)(Getty)Will Castle9 August 2026 13:59Monaco players pay respects to Diogo Jota and Andre SilvaWill Castle9 August 2026 13:50Monaco team newsFilipe Luis starts a strong side against Liverpool, which includes a man who has often been amongst a Reds transfer rumour mill in Lamine Camara.Former Spurs defender Eric Dier also starts at centre-back, while Arsenal academy product Mika Biereth leads the line.Monaco XI: Hradecky; Vanderson, Sane, Dier, Nazinho; Camara, Cabral; Abline, Golovin, Detourbet; Biereth.Will Castle9 August 2026 13:46The cold truth behind Mohamed Salah’s move to Turkey’s fourth-biggest clubFor the first time in a decade, Liverpool come to Anfield at the start of the season and their Egyptian king Mohamed Salah is not at their disposal.He’s moved to Turkey, but not to Galatasaray, or Fenerbahce, or Besiktas.
He’s joined Trabzonspor, the country’s fourth biggest club.Richard Jolly explores the peculiar switch: Will Castle9 August 2026 13:40Is Liverpool vs Monaco on TV?Liverpool vs Monaco is due to kick off at 2.30pm BST today at Anfield.How can I watch it?The match will be available to subscribers via LFCTV and “All Red Video”, Liverpool’s streaming service. Coverage begins at 1.30pm BST.Will Castle9 August 2026 13:35New signing Ronald Araujo set to undergo Liverpool medical today Ronald Araujo has arrived in England and is set to undergo a medical today ahead of his loan move to Liverpool.
The Barcelona centre-back is set to become Liverpool’s second signing of the summer and strengthen their defensive options.Araujo, primarily a central defender but who can also play right-back, will help give Iraola more strength in depth in both positions.Liverpool are short of fit defenders with right-back Conor Bradley probably out until November and the versatile Joe Gomez being injured in their first match of pre-season.Fellow centre-back Giovanni Leoni has not played since suffering a cruciate ligament injury on his debut against Southampton last September, while new signing Jeremy Jacquet was left out of matches on the pre-season tour of the United States because of concerns about his fitness.(PA)Jamie Braidwood9 August 2026 13:30Liverpool team news: Van Dijk and Isak start against Monaco Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker are among the Liverpool players returning to pre-season action as the Reds face Monaco at Anfield. Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Ndukwe, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Koumas, Wirtz, Gakpo; IsakJamie Braidwood9 August 2026 13:21