Liverpool's pre-season win over Sunderland was shaped by the players who changed the game at both ends of the pitch. Dominik Szoboszlai and Kieran Morrison both earned 8/10, while Lewis Koumas also finished on 8/10 after a lively cameo. The scoreline mattered less than the way those three took control of the evening.
Szoboszlai's captaincy and all-round impact
Szoboszlai was handed the captain's armband upon his arrival, then backed it up by equalising with a superb strike and setting up Koumas. It was the kind of contribution that explains why he stood above most of the rest of the field. He was one of Liverpool's top-rated performers and matched his own best recent level with the 8/10.
Morrison's opener and Koumas's late finish
Morrison gave Liverpool the opener by cutting in from the right and guiding the ball home. The finish was sharp, but the wider point was his threat throughout the match, which is why he sat alongside Szoboszlai at the top of the ratings. Koumas then added the late goal after pressing well and showing plenty of energy. Liverpool also had encouraging moments from Federico Chiesa in support, but the headline display belonged to the three players who directly influenced the result.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
