Liverpool continue their pre-season schedule with a high-profile friendly against Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday, taking place at the Nissan Stadium in Japan as part of the J.League World Challenge. It marks Liverpool’s first ever match on Japanese soil, offering local fans a rare chance to watch the Premier League champions in action.
Yokohama come into the game near the foot of the J1 League. After 24 matches, they sit 18th in the table with 21 points, having won just five times all season. While they have recently claimed back-to-back wins, they have been in relegation danger throughout the campaign. Their goal difference is -9, and they have scored only 23 goals while conceding 32. Their xPTS of 22.6 and xG of 20.7 reflect a team that has struggled to create chances and convert possession into threat. The lack of a consistent goal scorer has been a problem, with Daiya Tono and Yan Matheus tied on five goals each. No major summer signings have altered their core setup, and key midfielder Takuya Kida remains the anchor in a 4-2-3-1 shape.
Liverpool, meanwhile, arrive in strong form. They were Premier League winners in 2024/25 with 84 points and a +45 goal difference. They led the league in xG (82.2) and xGD (+43.6), showing dominance at both ends. Salah topped the scoring charts with 29, while Van Dijk and Alisson were key to a defence that conceded just 41. New signings Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz have joined up with the squad, while Diogo Jota’s tragic passing continues to be honoured throughout the tour. Despite a 4-2 defeat to Milan in their last outing, Liverpool have fielded strong line-ups and controlled most matches. This fixture should offer a clear gap in quality and intensity.
How the bookies view it: Liverpool heavy favourites
Liverpool are priced at 2/9 to win the match, which carries an implied probability of 81.8%, reflecting their clear superiority over Yokohama F. Marinos. The Japanese side are 17/2 outsiders (10.5% implied), while the draw is available at 19/4, equivalent to a 17.4% chance. The market strongly expects goals, with over 2.5 priced at 1/3 (75.0% implied probability), and both teams to score trading at 8/11, which suggests a 57.9% chance that Yokohama will find the net. The odds underline the gulf in quality between the sides and point to a match Liverpool are heavily favoured to control.
Head to Head: First meeting
Liverpool and Yokohama F. Marinos have never met in a competitive or friendly match.
Players to watch: Underrated Elliot to score
Harvey Elliott is a strong anytime scorer option heading into Liverpool’s match against Yokohama F. Marinos, based on both his output during the 2024/25 season and his standout displays at the recent UEFA U21 European Championship.
For Liverpool last season, Elliott made 28 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals and providing two assists, but that does not fully reflect his involvement. Many of his appearances came off the bench, yet he still managed 25 shots, nine on target, and registered 29 shot-creating actions. In matches where he started or was given more than 45 minutes, his attacking involvement increased significantly. Notably, he scored and assisted in a 3-2 win over Brighton and netted in Liverpool’s EFL Cup quarter-final against Southampton. He also featured in high-tempo matches against Tottenham, PSG, and City, a clear indication that Klopp trusted him in big moments. His performances late in the season were increasingly sharp, and he appears to be carrying that form into the summer.
At the U21 Euros, Elliott was one of England’s standout players. He scored four goals in six matches, including strikes against Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Czechia, while averaging 1.3 shots on target per 90 minutes, one of the highest rates in the tournament. Whether deployed centrally or from the right, he consistently found space in the final third and got into goal-scoring positions.
With Liverpool likely to dominate possession and chances against Yokohama’s fragile back line, Elliott, especially if he starts is a strong candidate to get on the scoresheet. His current form, combined with increased confidence and end-product, makes him a smart anytime scorer pick.
Predicted line-ups
Yokohama F. Marinos (4-2-3-1): Park, Koike, Eduardo, Kamijima, Nagato, Kida, Watanabe, Matheus, Yamane, Elber, Lopes
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Jones, Szoboszlai, Elliott, Wirtz, Gakpo
Anything else catch the eye?
Liverpool -1.5 on the Asian Handicap looks a strong betting angle based on both teams’ profiles. Yokohama F. Marinos have suffered five league defeats by two or more goals this season, including a 3-0 home loss to FC Tokyo and 2-0 defeats to mid-table sides like Kyoto and Niigata. They are vulnerable when teams press high or attack in transition — exactly where Liverpool excel.
While Yokohama try to play out from the back, they often lack cutting edge. They’ve had the third-lowest number of shots per game in the J1 League and are averaging fewer than 10 shots per match. Their shots on target rate is under 3.5 per game, and they’ve only scored more than once in three of their last 18 league games. In contrast, Liverpool have registered 15+ shots in 36 of their last 44 matches in all competitions, averaging over 6 shots on target per game and frequently overwhelming weaker defences.
Liverpool’s pressing will likely force errors in buildup, and their ability to sustain pressure over long periods should expose gaps. Marinos concede 1.33 goals per game but allow far more quality than that when pressed. With Liverpool’s pace and attacking depth, a comfortable win is the most likely outcome. A two-goal margin or greater feels well within reach.
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