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Bruce Springsteen Liverpool predicted setlist ahead of first Anfield showThe Boss is expected to perform a setlist of hits from throughout his decades-long career as he takes to the stage at

AnfieldCommentsWhat's OnSteve Graves Executive Editor Digital04:00, 04 Jun 2025Bruce Springsteen performs during the first night of his The Land of Hope and Dreams tour(Image: Getty Images)

Bruce Springsteen fans have waited decades to see him perform in Liverpool - and over that time The Boss has amassed a huge back catalogue of hits. Tens of thousands of people are set to

descend on Anfield tonight for the first of two shows at the home of Liverpool FC.

Everyone will have a favourite from down the years and with the likely length of the set going beyond the two and a half hour mark, nobody will face a long walk home feeling short-changed.

But with a list of songs as long as Springsteen's there are bound to be some omissions - as well as one or two unexpected highlights in the setlist.

‌ I'll be there reviewing for the ECHO, while my colleague Ryan Paton will be speaking to fans outside the stadium as they await one of the biggest shows in Liverpool's recent history. And

of course the man himself will be back on stage on Saturday to do it all again - although it's likely there will be some tweaks to the setlist between shows.

‌ As we anticipate what lies ahead, I've sifted through recent shows from Springsteen's Land of Hope and Dreams Tour to see what we might expect, and build a predicted setlist for the night.

This is by no means a definite setlist - with his Liverpool debut meaning so much to the Boss, there's every chance he'll have some surprises planned which even the biggest fan couldn't

predict.

But there are some certainties to make the list, and plenty of educated guesses we can make.

What songs will Bruce Springsteen play at Anfield? Let's start with the absolute bankers. Some tracks are virtually guaranteed to appear in the set, with several pretty much nailed on to

appear at certain points. In recent shows, Bruce has played between 25 and 27 songs (including the encore) On both nights at Co-Op Live in Manchester last month he played 27, so let's treat

ourselves to the same number in building our list.

Article continues below Land of Hope and Dreams would be an unlikely omission, given the tour bears its name. It's been either first or second in the order many times on the tour, and was

first up on the show preceding Anfield, in Marseille on May 31. He'll play it, and let's say he'll play it first.

Thunder Road will surely feature in its customary pre-encore slot, which we can expect to be song 20.

The first two in the encore are also easy to predict - we can expect Born in the USA followed by Born to Run.

‌ The fourth encore track could well be Dancing in the Dark, leaving us a third to choose before the final three. In recent shows this has alternated between Glory Days and Bobby Jean. I'm

going for the former - just.

The set will almost certainly close with the Bob Dylan cover Chimes of Freedom (followed by a recording of Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land, but we won't officially count that one).

This has generally been preceded by Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out - but interestingly, in Marseille Bruce added a version of Twist and Shout. It would seem highly unlikely this wasn't in

preparation for his visit to Liverpool, given the Beatles had a hit with the song. However they didn't write it - so will this be his nod to the Fab Four, or a decoy/warm-up for a cover of a

Lennon/McCartney original?

‌ I could play it safe and go with Twist and Shout but let's go out on a limb - Springsteen will cover one of the Beatles originals which inspired him most to become a musician. He's spoken

of how I Want to Hold Your Hand had a transformative effect on his life - wouldn't it be amazing to see him play it here?

As for the rest of the set, there are plenty of songs almost certain to make it, including Youngstown, Murder Incorporated and Hungry Heart.

I've included most in roughly the positions they've occupied on most nights. Atlantic City has been lightly-raced on the tour but I've listed it more in hope than expectation.

‌ In considering the selections I've thought about the stadium setting, which may mitigate against the more low-key likes of I'm on Fire making the setlist.

Full predicted setlist for Bruce Springsteen's first show in LiverpoolLand of Hope and DreamsDeath to My HometownLonesome DaySeedsRainmakerDarkness on the Edge of TownNo SurrenderHungry

HeartThe RiverYoungstownMurder IncorporatedLong Walk HomeHouse of a Thousand GuitarsAtlantic CityMy City of RuinsBecause the Night (Patti Smith Group cover)Wrecking BallThe

RisingBadlandsThunder Road ENCORE

Article continues belowBorn in the USABorn to RunGlory DaysDancing in the DarkTenth Avenue Freeze-OutI Want to Hold Your Hand (The Beatles cover)Chimes of Freedom (Bob Dylan cover) FIVE

OTHERS I'D LOVE TO HEAR

I'm On FireBlinded by the LightThe Ghost of Tom JoadDoes This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?Tougher than the Rest