Sunderland 2-4 Liverpool: Three Key Things We Learned From Black Cats' Pre-season Defeat

Pre-season is a crucial time for football clubs and head coaches, and Sunderland's summer tour of the United States will be an important learning period for Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris.

Sunderland began their three-game trip with a heavy 4-2 defeat to Premier League rivals Liverpool in Nashville, with Le Bris opting for a strong starting XI and making several changes at half-time and introducing a cohort of Black Cats youngsters.

Liverpool took an early lead through youngster Kieran Morrison, before Sunderland fired back courtesy of a stunning long-range strike from Enzo Le Fee to see the scores level at half-time.

Young Sunderland talent Timur Tutierov put Le Bris' side ahead early after the interval, before Liverpool fired three without concession to clinch victory in the pre-season affair.

Following the 4-2 defeat, there were some glaring elements from the game for Le Bris and the Sunderland hierarchy to consider amid the summer transfer window, with the Premier League campaign now less than a month away.

Despite Le Fee being the star of the show for Sunderland against Liverpool, his young fellow midfielder, Chris Rigg, was also in impressive form, with the Academy of Light graduate providing the assist for the Frenchman's emphatic equaliser.

Teenage midfielder Rigg performed commendably when called upon by Le Bris last season, and the Sunderland starlet has continued that in pre-season, with two stellar showings against York City and in the first-half against the Reds.

Rigg looked comfortable in possession and much more filled out physically, and this combination alongside his ample technical qualities should see him feature on a more regular basis for Sunderland next season.

On the other hand, several Sunderland stars have shown, amid the pre-season preparations so far, that their permanent footballing future should lie away from the Stadium of Light project.

For instance, the likes of Alan Browne and Romaine Mundle, who both were signed during the Championship days and started the pre-season friendly against Liverpool, are simply not good enough to warrant a place in Le Bris' squad next season.

If Sunderland's evolution is to continue, then the club's transfer team must work on shifting the deadweight in the Black Cats' ranks.

As well as Rigg and Le Fee, young talent Tutierov also shone against Andoni Iraola's side, with the Ukrainian youth international taking his pre-season tally under Le Bris to two goals in as many games.

Against Liverpool, the 21-year-old forward, who recently extended his stay at Sunderland, slotted the ball coolly past Reds goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to put the Black Cats ahead, but only for seven minutes.

Regardless of his goal being cancelled out by Liverpool's comeback, his performances in pre-season will have undoubtedly impressed Le Bris and the Sunderland hierarchy, and the academy product will be hoping for more of the same against Leeds United on Friday.