Liverpool takes lead against Como as Gakpo scores in pre-season friendly

Liverpool’s pre-season campaign reached its final act on August 16, with Cody Gakpo firing the Reds ahead against Italian Serie A outfit Como 1907 in what marked the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs. The friendly double-header at Anfield served as a last dress rehearsal before the 2026/27 Premier League season kicks off. A new chapter at Anfield Andoni Iraola took charge of Liverpool’s preparations with a double-header format against Como, one match played behind closed doors and the other staged in front of the Anfield faithful with a kickoff around 6pm BST. The setup allowed Iraola to rotate his squad, giving both established names and newer arrivals meaningful minutes before the real action begins. Gakpo’s contribution was the standout moment across both fixtures. The Dutch forward, who joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in early 2023, showed sharp finishing to open the scoring. His goal became the central talking point of the day, with fan-shared highlights circulating widely across social media. Como’s Serie A ambitions under Fàbregas On the other side of the pitch, Como 1907 arrived at Anfield managed by Cesc Fàbregas, the former Arsenal, Barcelona, and C...