Pre-season matches: What we learned from weekend action

Premier League clubs continued their preparations for 2024/25 over the weekend, with 15 sides in action.

Here we take a look at how they fared in their encounters.

Liverpool 0-1 Preston

What happened?
Arne Slot's first pre-season match ended in a 1-0 defeat to Preston North End in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Liverpool's AXA training ground. See: Liverpool report

What did we learn?
Slot lined up Liverpool in a 4-3-3 formation, similar to under former manager Jurgen Klopp. Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott and Conor Bradley all featured, with Salah tasked to lead the line in the first half.

What did the manager say?
“We controlled the game completely, we only conceded one shot,” Slot told the club website. "The bad thing about it was that that shot went in, [it was] a great goal, though."

When do they play next?
Liverpool are off to the US where they meet Real Betis in Pittsburgh on 27 July.

Rangers 0-2 Man Utd

What happened?
Manchester United earned their first win of pre-season, thanks to a sublime 39th-minute finish from Amad and Joe Hugill's drive 20 minutes from time. See: Man Utd report

What did we learn?
Despite only signing from Lille on Thursday, 18-year-old Leny Yoro gave an assured performance on his debut. Jadon Sancho also made his first appearance for the club since 26 August 2023.

What did the manager say?
“Today was much better, especially in the prospect of aggressiveness. We were much more on the front foot and it was a team [effort] in both halves so, yeah, it was enjoyable to watch,” Erik ten Hag told the club website. 

“Last season he [Amad] had bad times with bad injuries. Now for this season, this has to be the year. It’s great that he starts like this.”

When do they play next?
Ten Hag's side travel to the US, first facing Arsenal in Los Angeles on 27 July.

QPR 0-2 Spurs

What happened?
Tottenham Hotspur made it two wins out of two. Yves Bissouma opened the scoring thanks to some wonderful skill before Dane Scarlett added a second late on. See: Spurs report

What did we learn?
Archie Gray once again lined up at centre-back, but another of Spurs' recent arrivals, Lucas Bergvall, had to be withdrawn after 25 minutes due to a knock.

What did the manager say?
"We’ve had a tough week, training, game, travel, so I felt for the boys, we kind of knew we’d be a bit leggy, but I still felt we played some good stuff,” Ange Postecoglou told the club website.

When do they play next?
Spurs fly to Japan where they play Vissel Kobe in Tokyo on 27 July.

Sligo Rovers 3-3 Everton

What happened?
Two goals from Youssef Chermiti helped Everton fight back from 2-0 down to draw. Mason Holgate was also on target. See: Everton report

What did we learn?
Sean Dyche would have been pleased with a number of players in the second half, with Chermiti aiming to kick on after a slow first season for Everton, while Iroegbunam looked assured in midfield. Summer signings Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam made their debuts.

What did the manager say?
“With these games it's always awkward with scorelines but the lads did 13.5km yesterday, which is a big day - trust me,” Dyche told the club website.

When do they play next?
Everton visit Salford City on 27 July.

Crystal Palace 1-1 Charlton

What happened?
A 90th-minute equaliser from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi secured a draw in Palace's second pre-season match. See: Palace report

What did we learn?
New signings Chadi Riad and Daichi Kamada both started for the Eagles, with the latter setting up Rak-Sakyi's leveller. As well as his assist, Kamada nearly set up a goal for Riad.

When do they play next?
Palace head to Crawley Town on 27 July.

Sunderland 1-1 Nott'm Forest

What happened?
Second-half substitute Anthony Elanga set up fellow sub Omar Richards for a thumping equaliser. See: Nott'm Forest report

What did we learn?
Nuno Espirito Santo has seen his wingers be his chief creators in in Forest's two pre-season matches. After Callum Hudson-Odoi produced two assists in in a 3-0 win at Chesterfield, Elanga provided the key pass on this occasion. 

Richards' goal

What did the manager say?
"We tried to rotate and give minutes to everybody. Omar did well," Nuno told the club website. "But the result is not so important now - the players acquire the fitness level that is necessary." 

When do they play next?
Nuno's side meet Millwall in Murcia, Spain, on 23 July. 

Eastleigh 1-7 Southampton

What happened?
Adam Armstrong claimed a brace as Saints started pre-season with a win featuring six different goalscorers against non-league opposition. See: Southampton report

Armstrong's goals

What did we learn?
Russell Martin switched from a 3-4-3 to a 4-3-3 at half-time, the latter being the most popular of six different formations used last season. A total of 22 players were used over the 90 minutes, including new signings Ronnie Edwards, Charlie Taylor, Yukinari Sugawara and Nathan Wood.

What did the manager say?
“I’m annoyed we conceded a goal from a set play - it’s my job to be demanding... but on the whole it was a really good evening for us," Martin told the club's official website. “The new guys, who haven’t been here long at all, fitting in seamlessly and doing some really brilliant stuff."

When do they play next?
Southampton face Bordeaux on 24 July in the first of two behind-closed-doors matches in Spain.

Shakhtar Donetsk 0-1 Ipswich

What happened?
Ipswich kicked off their pre-season campaign with a win in wet conditions thanks to a goal from Sam Morsy just before the half-hour mark. See: Ipswich report

What did we learn?
Morsy proved he can be a scoring threat against top-quality opponents. In his last three league campaigns, he has scored 10 goals and provided 16 assists.

When do they play next?
Ipswich host Fortuna Dusseldorf on 27 July. 

Wolves 3-0 Bristol City

What happened?
Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chan and an own goal ensured Wolverhampton Wanderers eased past their Championship opponents in a behind-closed-doors fixture. See: Wolves report

What did we learn?
Rather than a normal 90 minutes, this encounter consisted of four 30-minute quarters in order to maximise both the number of players Gary O'Neil used, along with match minutes to increase fitness levels.

Hwang's goal

When do they play next?
Wolves fly to the US, first facing West Ham United under former head coach Julen Lopetegui in Florida on 27 July.

Spartak Trnava 0-3 Aston Villa 

What happened?
Aston Villa continued their winning start to pre-season thanks to goals from Leon Bailey, who captained the side, the in-form Morgan Rogers and Cameron Archer. See: Aston Villa report

What did we learn?
After scoring twice in their first friendly against Walsall, Rogers has three goals in two pre-season outings. 

When do they play next?
Villa travel to the US, first playing MLS side Columbus Crew on 27 July.

AFC Wimbledon 2-5 Brentford

What happened?
Igor Thiago scored twice on his Brentford debut, with Yoane Wissa, Kevin Schade and Bryan Mbeumo also on the scoresheet. See: Brentford report

What did we learn?
Thiago made a positive start to life with the Bees, offering encouragement as Thomas Frank searches for attacking depth. Midfielder Stuart Armstrong, on trial with Brentford following his departure from Southampton, also got a chance to impress.

All of Brentford's goals

What did the manager say?
“Positive experiences boost confidence and it’s always nice for a striker to score. There’s still a lot to go on, and he’ll [Thiago] of course need to do it in the Premier League, but it’s a good start,” Frank told the club website.

When do they play next?
Brentford visit Boreham Wood on 23 July.

Leicester City 2-1 Villarreal

What happened?
Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi netted a goal apiece as new Leicester manager Steve Cooper oversaw a narrow win in France. See: Leicester report

What did we learn?
It was a useful opportunity for Cooper, who was able to run the rule over two starting XIs who took to the field in a match formed of two 60-minute halves.

What did the manager say?

When do they play next?
Leicester travel to Shrewsbury Town on 23 July.

Dagenham & Redbridge 0-1 West Ham

What happened?
Lopetegui tasted victory in his first match in charge at West Ham, with a wonderful Andy Irving curler claiming a narrow victory. See: West Ham report

What did we learn?
Summer signings Maximilian Kilman and Luis Guilherme both started, while new goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, came on in the second half. Lopetegui used the match as an opportunity to see virtually his entire squad play, with 22 of West Ham's 24-man squad involved.

When do they play next?
West Ham will face Wolves on 27 July in Florida.

Newcastle 3-1 SpVgg Unterhaching

What happened?
A strong Newcastle side proved too strong for the third tier German side SpVgg Unterhaching, with Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak on target. See: Newcastle report

What did we learn?
The return from injury of Nick Pope will be welcome news for Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe, after the Newcastle backline struggled following the goalkeeper's dislocated shoulder suffered against Manchester United last December. Fellow goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos made his first appearance for the club since signing from Nottingham Forest. 

When do they play next?
Newcastle travel to Hull City on 27 July.

AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Wrexham

What happened?
Hollywood star and Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney was among the spectators as Marcos Senesi's headed equaliser earned a 1-1 draw in Santa Barbara, United States. See: Bournemouth report

What did we learn?
The form of Philip Billing, who provided the assist for Senesi's leveller, will have been encouraging for Cherries' head coach Andoni Iraola, while new signing Daniel Jebbison got a useful 45 minutes of action under his belt. Bournemouth also played in a special kit designed by actor and club shareholder Michael B. Jordan. 

What did the manager say?

When do they play next?
Bournemouth face Arsenal on 24 July in Los Angeles.