Liverpool vs Como and Como 1907 met at Anfield on Sunday, August 16, as the Reds brought their pre-season preparations to a close ahead of the new Premier League campaign. The fixture was scheduled for a 6pm BST kick-off, with the meeting marking the first-ever encounter between the two clubs.
Liverpool’s meeting with Como came at a crucial moment for new head coach Andoni Iraola, with the Spanish manager looking for clear signs of improvement before Liverpool’s competitive campaign begins against Newcastle United on August 23.
The Reds had already endured a mixed pre-season, including a 3-2 defeat to Monaco at Anfield after surrendering a two-goal lead. Iraola admitted Liverpool still had work to do, particularly when it came to maintaining intensity and defensive organisation for the full 90 minutes.
Liverpool vs Como: Why this game mattered
Although officially a friendly, the Como fixture represented Liverpool’s final scheduled first-team test before the Premier League opener.
Liverpool confirmed that Como would visit Anfield on August 16, with the match forming part of the club’s final two pre-season fixtures at home.
The club also arranged a second Liverpool vs Como meeting earlier on the same day behind closed doors. That additional match kicked off at 12pm BST and was designed to provide further minutes for players within the squad.
The behind-closed-doors meeting ended 0-0, according to match coverage published after the game. New signing Victor Muñoz was among the players who attracted attention, while Trey Nyoni also impressed with his disciplined performance.
Liverpool team news and the Iraola factor
All eyes were on Iraola as Liverpool entered their final days of preparation.
The former Bournemouth manager took charge during the summer following Arne Slot’s departure and has been attempting to introduce a more energetic, high-intensity approach.
Liverpool’s pre-season has already produced encouraging attacking moments, but consistency has been the major concern.
The 3-2 loss to Monaco was particularly revealing. Liverpool raced into a 2-0 lead before defensive problems and a drop in intensity allowed the French side to complete the comeback. Iraola subsequently acknowledged that Liverpool cannot afford to let their performance levels fall during matches.
That made the Como game an important final rehearsal.
Liverpool also strengthened their defence during the summer with the arrival of Ronald Araújo on loan from Barcelona, while the squad continued to manage players returning from international duty and fitness issues.
Como provide a different kind of test
Como arrived at Anfield after an impressive end to the previous Serie A campaign.
Their final league results of the 2025-26 season included wins over Genoa, Verona, Parma and Cremonese, along with a goalless draw against Napoli.
The Italian side therefore offered Liverpool something more useful than a routine pre-season opponent.
Como’s visit also carried historical significance. The Italian club confirmed that the Anfield fixture was the first-ever meeting between Como 1907 and Liverpool FC.
Liverpool vs Como: What fans were watching for
The biggest question surrounding Liverpool was whether Iraola’s side could produce a complete performance.
After conceding heavily in recent friendlies, Liverpool needed to show greater defensive discipline while maintaining the attacking threat that had been visible during earlier games.
The Como match also gave supporters another opportunity to assess Liverpool’s younger players and summer additions before the pressure of competitive football arrived.
With Newcastle United waiting on August 23, the margin for experimentation was becoming smaller.
Liverpool’s official fixture schedule confirms that the Premier League opener will take place at St James’ Park, giving Iraola just one week between the Como friendly and his first competitive league game in charge.
The bigger picture for Liverpool
This summer has been about more than simply preparing for one match.
Iraola is attempting to reshape Liverpool’s style while also dealing with the expectations that come with managing at Anfield. The early signs have been mixed: there have been promising attacking spells, but the Monaco and Leeds defeats exposed problems that cannot simply be dismissed as normal pre-season rustiness.
The Como fixture therefore represented Liverpool’s final opportunity to sharpen their system before the points start to matter.
For supporters, the most important takeaway was not necessarily the scoreline. It was whether Liverpool looked more cohesive, more energetic and more reliable without the ball.
The real test begins next weekend.
Liverpool vs Como quick facts
- Match: Liverpool vs Como 1907
- Competition: Pre-season friendly
- Venue: Anfield
- Date: Sunday, August 16, 2026
- Kick-off: 6pm BST
- Significance: Liverpool’s final scheduled first-team pre-season fixture
- Premier League opener: Newcastle United vs Liverpool, August 23
- Previous meeting: No previous competitive or friendly meeting; this was the first encounter between the clubs.
Liverpool vs Como latest verdict
Liverpool’s final meeting with Como was always going to be judged through the lens of the season ahead.
The result matters, but the bigger story is whether Iraola has managed to address the issues that appeared during pre-season. Liverpool cannot afford the defensive lapses and drops in intensity that proved costly against Monaco once the Premier League begins.
The clock is now ticking.
Liverpool’s opening league assignment against Newcastle is only days away, and the Como game was the final chance for Iraola to fine-tune his team before the new era becomes competitive football.
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