Liverpool fans couldn’t be much happier.
After sealing their 20th Premier League title last year, the club has managed to sign high-profile signings like Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Jeremie Frimpong, and is now on the cusp of even signing Newcastle’s star forward, Aleksandar Isak.
This makes their team look even stronger as they look to defend their PL title next season.
But before that, they need their players to gel together and be fit and ready, and that can only happen in the upcoming preseason games they will play.
Their most recent fixture is against Japan’s Yokohama FM on 30th July at 11.30 am BST in the Nissan Stadium in Japan as part of the official J-League World Challenge.
The J.League World Challenge is an annual high-profile preseason event organized by the Japanese professional league (J.League), in which top-tier J1 clubs host leading European or global football teams.
This year, they are hosting Liverpool FC and are a part of the team’s bigger Asia per-season tour for this campaign.
The Merseyside team is fresh off a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Serie A side AC Milan in their last pre-season fixture at the Kai Tak Sports in Hong Kong.
In the first pre-season game against Preston, Liverpool managed to defeat them 3-1 and will be hopeful to bring this winning form back to their pre-season schedule by winning against Yokohama.
Then they played the championship side Stoke City, where they thrashed them 5-0.
Early doors, but up until now, Darwin Nunez has had a stellar preseason, scoring 4 goals, including a hat trick against Stoke City.
Dutch winger Cody Gakpo has also been influential, chipping in with 2 goals in the pre-season.
Liverpool comfortably won the Premier League last season, finishing 10 points ahead of Arsenal with 74 points.
Last campaign, we saw them transition from a high-pressing team under Jurgen Klopp over the years with his gegenpressing tactics to a more possession-based and clinical side under Arne Slot, in his debut season as their head coach.
As always, their Mr Dependables, Salah and Virgil Van Djik, were crucial to their performance both at the back and the front.
They scored 86 with an average of 2.26 per game and only conceded 41, with a positive GD of 45.
Mo Salah scored a whopping 34 goals and registered 23 assists, which earned him his deserved Golden Boot as well.
Winger Cody Gakpo also registered 18 goals as their 2nd highest goal scorer.
Yokohama F. Marinos, on the other hand, are competing in the 2025 J1 League season, Japan’s top-tier professional football division, which has already begun.
As one of Japan’s most successful clubs historically, the Marinos are known for their attacking style and strong domestic reputation.
However, the current season has been turbulent.
Once considered among the strongest clubs in the J.League, they currently sit 18th out of 20 teams in the Japanese top division as of July 27, 2025.
After playing 24 matches, they have only managed 5 wins, 6 draws, and 13 losses, collecting just 21 points. Their goal difference stands at negative 9, having scored 23 goals and conceded 32.
This puts them deep in the relegation zone.
Their season has been marred by managerial instability; former England assistant Steve Holland was appointed as head coach but was recently sacked following poor results and internal disagreements.
The team’s attacking structure has been disjointed and their defense inconsistent, with little cohesion or momentum on either end of the pitch.
Brazilian Anderson Lopes, who plays at Centre Forward, is their top scorer with 11 goals, whilst he has also registered 6 assists, as well.
Right winger Yan Matheus has also scored 9 goals and is their 2nd top scorer.
Yokohama FM have been abysmal this season with many disappointing losses.
But, in their last 3 games, they have managed to get some positive results.
🇯🇵 With Liverpool taking on Yokohama F. Marinos this week I’m keeping my eye on two players.
— Bence Bocsák (@BenBocsak) July 28, 2025
Riku Yamane (21) is a really intelligent midfielder who is very press resistant and reads the game well.
Hiroto Asada (17) is probably one of the biggest Japanese talents right now. A… pic.twitter.com/kpN4Ft6OhK
After a gutsy 1-1 draw against Shonan Bellmare, they have managed to pull off back-to-back wins against rivals Yokohama FC (0-1) and Nogaya (3-0) in the subsequent fixtures.
Anderson Lopes and Yan Matheus were both on the scoresheet in these two games, which the J-1 League team won as clean sheets.
What to expect?
Heading into the J.League World Challenge clash, both Yokohama F. Marinos and Liverpool FC arrive with very different momentum and motivations, but their most recent performances offer strong clues about what to expect on the pitch.
For Liverpool, their 4–2 pre-season loss to AC Milan in Hong Kong was a mixed bag: exciting in attack but porous in defense.
Arne Slot’s side showed flashes of the fluid, technical style he’s been trying to imprint, especially through Florian Wirtz, the club’s £116 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen.
Wirtz was impressive in his first appearance in front of fans, operating as a false nine with remarkable intelligence in tight spaces, clever passing, and silky movement.
His link-up play with Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott offered glimpses of a new-look attack designed to fill the creative void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Rio Ngumoha, the 16-year-old sensation, brought energy and directness from the wing, contributing heavily to Liverpool’s first goal and unsettling Milan’s defense with fearless dribbling.
However, despite their attacking promise, Liverpool’s defensive vulnerability was laid bare.
Injuries and lack of depth meant midfielders like Ryan Gravenberch and full-backs like Kostas Tsimikas were deployed as makeshift center-backs, leading to multiple errors, something Milan ruthlessly exploited.
With Joe Gomez injured and Jarell Quansah sold, Liverpool’s backline looks fragile, and unless reinforcements arrive or adjustments are made, it’s likely Yokohama will look to target this area with pace and direct play.
From Yokohama F. Marinos’ perspective, this match comes at a time when their domestic form is at its lowest ebb. They sit 18th in the J1 League after 24 games, with just five wins and a –9 goal difference.
But what the Marinos lack in consistency, they often compensate for in big fixtures like this.
Their squad, while not star-studded, features pacey wingers like Matheus and CF Lopes and a tactically flexible midfield that thrives when the pressure of league results is momentarily removed.
The key for Yokohama will be to press high and exploit Liverpool’s makeshift backline, especially if Gravenberch or Tsimikas again feature out of position.
They will also likely target set pieces and quick transitions: two areas where Liverpool struggled against Milan.
However, their own defensive record has been poor this season, and they will need to be cautious in possession.
Any giveaways near midfield could prove costly against Liverpool’s lightning-quick forward line, especially if Wirtz, Salah, or Szoboszlai are allowed to break in behind.
In summary, fans can expect a high-tempo, open affair. Liverpool will almost certainly dominate possession and chances, but their vulnerabilities at the back make them far from invulnerable.
Yokohama, despite its league troubles, may find opportunities through direct attacking transitions and can capitalize if Liverpool’s defensive experiment continues.
It may not be a cagey contest but rather a match defined by attacking flair, defensive shape, and how well each team can cover its weak spots.
Head-to-Head
In terms of head-to-head stats, this will be the first-ever match or meeting between the club from Merseyside and Yokohama FM.
Team News & Predicted XI
There are still concerns about Alexis Mac Allister’s fitness, while an injury ruled Joe Gomez out of the travelling squad.
CF Anderson Lopes for Yokohama FM might start from the bench.
Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson, Frimpong, Stephenson, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Nyoni, Wirtz; Salah, Ekitike, Ngumoha
Yokohama predicted XI: Ik-Kyu; Miyaichi, Quinones, Deng, Suzuki; Yamane, Aziangbe; Matheus, Inoue, Elber; Taniumra.
Prediction
Despite Liverpool’s recent leak by conceding 4 goals in Hong Kong against Milan, they are just too strong for this game.
Yokohama might get the odd chance due to Liverpool’s back line, which is very high usually, or might get a dodgy penalty at best, but I can’t see them scoring past 1 goal.
My prediction is a 4-1 Liverpool win.
Betting Odds
Team to win – Liverpool
3/14
Liverpool have too much firepower even without Nunez, Diaz, and company. Easy win for them.
Anytime goalscorer for Liverpool – Cody Gakpo
11/10
Gakpo is their second top scorer this preseason, and with Nunez out responsibility is on him to score.
Anytime goalscorer for Yokohama – Yan Matheus
15/4
If Yokohama FM exploits that high backline, Matheus is our bet to put in terms of scoring for the J1 side.
Both teams to score – Yes
8/13
Liverpool’s recent leaky form at the back, coupled with Yokohama’s recent upsurge in the last 3 games, means both sides will be desperate to score, and they will.
Where Can I Watch the Game?
United Kingdom
It will be aired on the LFC TV (Liverpool’s in-house channel)
For streaming, it will be on the All Red Video platform (formerly LFCTV GO), with monthly subscriptions starting from around £4.99.
The match kicks off at 11:30 AM BST.
United States
In the United States, in terms of TV broadcast, CBS Sports Network will air the game live.
The game will also be available via Fubo and Paramount+.
Additionally, it will also be accessible through Liverpool’s All Red Video online service via their official website or app.
It will be aired at 6:30 AM ET.
Canada
In Canada, the match should be available via DAZN or potentially Ave Red Video if accessible.
Though the official J.League announcement lists CBS Sports Network for the U.S. market, DAZN typically picks up such friendlies in Canada.
The match will be aired at 3:30 AM PT in Vancouver (Pacific Time – PT) and 6:30 AM ET in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal (Eastern Time – ET)
Australia
The match will be broadcast via Optus Sports, which holds exclusive rights to the J.League World Challenge in Australia.
It will be aired at 8:30 PM in AEST: Sydney and Melbourne.
