First-half strikes by Cody Gakpo and debutant Jeremy Jacquet gave new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola his first non-competitive home win as the Premier League side finished their pre-season preparations by beating Como at Anfield.
Jacquet’s first goal in Red 👌
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 16, 2026
Netherlands international Gakpo produced a composed piece of control and arrowed finish to score the 23rd-minute opener following an incisive run and cross by compatriot Jeremie Frimpong.
Frimpong ➡️ Gakpo!
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 16, 2026
Gakpo turned provider for Liverpool’s second with a minute to go of the first period, an Oranje combination working to telling effect again as the forward collected Virgil van Dijk’s pass and slipped a low delivery in front of goal for Jacquet to tap in.
Ryan Gravenberch almost added to the lead with added time looming, lifting a shot against the crossbar following a slick team move.
Champions League qualifiers Como achieved their highest-ever position of fourth in Serie A last season but did not threaten a repeat of their draw at Arsenal in a friendly on Wednesday.
Assane Diao sent an excellent chance wide when the visitors caught Liverpool out with a late counter-attack and Tasos Douvikas was denied by goalkeeper Alisson after breaking clear in the last attack of the contest.
Liverpool vs Como: Visitors ‘should have scored’
“It was a really good test for Liverpool against a decent side who caused a lot of problems,” former Reds striker Neil Mellor told the club’s official broadcast.
“At times, Liverpool didn’t enjoy that second half. [Douvikas] should have scored. It was a brilliant save from Alisson.”
Liverpool’s competitive campaign begins at Newcastle in the top flight on August 23 (16:30).
Como, who are managed by former Premier League star Cesc Fabregas, visit Udinese in Serie A a day earlier (16:30).
Liverpool team vs Como
Jacquet, who arrived from Rennes for £60 million in July, was among Liverpool’s starters alongside Alexander Isak, who remains the most expensive Premier League signing ever thanks to the striker’s £125 move from Newcastle in September 2025.
Centre-back Ronald Araujo – signed on loan for the season from Barcelona – came on as a substitute.
Iraola remained without Joe Gomez (muscle), Jayden Danns (thigh), Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) and Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley (knee).
Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister played his first minutes of pre-season in the earlier stalemate with Como.
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Jeremy Jacquet, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Jeremie Frimpong, Ryan Gravenberch, Rio Ngumoha
Liverpool substitutes: Harvey Davies, Victor Munoz, Ronald Araujo, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas, Talla Ndiaye, Will Wright
Como full line up vs Liverpool
Como starting XI: Jean Butez, Yan Couto, Jacobo Ramon, Trevoh Chalobah, Kaiki, Lucas da Cunha, Martin Baturina, Mattia Liberali, Luis Milla, Jesus Rodriguez, Tasos Douvikas
Como substitutes: Mauro Vigorito, Edoardo Goldaniga, Maxence Caqueret, Alessandro Gabrielloni, Nico Paz, Emil Audero, Alberto Dossena, Adrian Lahdo, Nicolas Kuhn, Maximo Perrone, Alieu Fadera, Ivan Smolcic, Adam Asfour, Fabio Rispoli, Riccardo Cassano, Ignace Van der Brempt, Ivan Azon
Where to watch Liverpool vs Como: TV channel, online streams
Live coverage and streaming is on All Red, which costs £4.99 a month or £42.99 a season. A 14-day free trial is available.
Liverpool vs Como friendly stats
- Liverpool’s only defeat during 2025/26 pre-season was against an Italian side, losing 4-2 to Milan in Kowloon, where Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo scored for the Reds
- Szoboszlai’s 88th-minute penalty gave them victory in their only competitive meeting with an Italian club last season, winning 1-0 at Inter during the league phase of the Champions League
- That was Liverpool’s fourth successive win in competitive matches against Italian teams, following up a 2-0 home victory over Bologna and 3-1 away defeat of Milan during the league phase in 2023/24
- Their first game on that run was a 1-0 win at Atalanta in the 2023/24 Europa League quarter-finals, although their preceding 3-0 defeat to La Dea at Anfield meant they exited on aggregate
- Against Italian clubs, Liverpool’s competitive record is W20 D6 L18, with none of their last 22 such matches finishing 0-0 since visiting Napoli during the Europa League group stage in October 2010
- Their draw at Arsenal was Como’s first 2026/27 pre-season away friendly, having played four previous warm-up games at home with an average of more than three goals per game
- They traded the lead with Paris FC in a 2-2 draw, came from behind to beat Al-Ula 3-1 and lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Villarreal in July, then shared three goals during the first 12 minutes with Famalicao on their way to a 3-2 victory
- Como had the third-best away record in Serie A last season, with only Inter and Milan taking more points and winning more games on the road
- Fabregas won the FA Cup in 2005 and reached the 2006 Champions League and 2007 EFL Cup finals during his time as an Arsenal midfielder between 2003 and 2011
- Now 39, Fabregas switched from Barcelona’s to Arsenal’s academy in 2003 and was their Player of the Season in 2007 and 2010
