**Liverpool to Face Preston in First Pre-Season Friendly: TV Details, Team News, and Tributes**
As excitement mounts for the forthcoming football season, Liverpool FC are set to face Preston North End in a pre-season friendly this Sunday. This fixture, played at Deepdale, serves as an early test for both teams as they fine-tune their squads ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. With Liverpool preparing for their Premier League title defence, the match holds additional significance, coming on the heels of tragic news that has rocked the football community.
The clash is scheduled to kick off at 3pm BST on Sunday, 13th July, with live television coverage available on ITV1. Fans who prefer to keep up with the action online will also be able to stream the match via ITVX, with pre-match coverage beginning at 2.40pm. The broadcast provides supporters of both clubs the chance to witness their teams’ preparations from the comfort of their homes, entirely free of charge.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who aims to put his own stamp on the squad after recently taking the helm, will use this fixture to assess a number of new signings. Among the faces likely to make their debuts are Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Milos Kerkez. These additions are expected to give fans a glimpse of the talent that could feature prominently in the coming season.
Preston North End have also been busy in the transfer market, bolstering their ranks with fresh talent. Odel Offiah, Daniel Iversen, Thierry Small, Jordan Thompson, and Pol Valentin have all arrived at Deepdale, bringing both depth and youthful energy. Manager Paul Heckingbottom utilised two separate line-ups in their earlier pre-season outing against non-league Chorley, blending experienced players with academy prospects. A similar rotation may be in store for Sunday’s encounter.
This fixture will be laden with emotion following the untimely passing of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, in a tragic car accident in Spain’s Zamora province just last week. In what marks Liverpool’s first match since the devastating news, both clubs have announced plans to honour the Portuguese international and his brother.
The tribute at Deepdale will begin with a rendition of Liverpool’s iconic anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Ahead of kick-off, Preston’s captain Ben Whiteman will lay a wreath in front of the away supporters as a mark of respect. Both clubs will observe a minute’s silence, and all players will don black armbands throughout the match as a sign of mourning and unity.
Additionally, Preston North End have produced a commemorative edition of their matchday programme for the occasion, featuring tributes and reflections on Jota’s influence both on and off the pitch. Televised segments during the broadcast are also set to pay further respects to the former Liverpool forward, ensuring his passing is marked with the solemnity it deserves.
For Liverpool, this match is not only a test of their readiness for the Premier League season, which starts at home to Bournemouth on 15 August, but also an opportunity for the football world to collectively remember one of its own. With further friendlies on the horizon, including the high-profile Community Shield fixture against Crystal Palace at Wembley, each match will serve as a stepping stone in the team’s journey under their new manager.
Spectators—whether in the stadium or tuning in at home—can expect an intense contest, emotional tributes, and the first glimpses of how both sides are shaping up. As pre-season matches return, football fans are reminded that amidst the excitement of the new campaign, the community’s solidarity in times of loss remains at the heart of the sport.