The Andoni Iraola period received off to a flying begin in Nashville with a 4-2 thumping of Sunderland – although the harm to defender Joe Gomez might depart the brand new Liverpool supervisor pondering at what value this win got here.
Objectives from teenager Kieran Morrison, stand-in captain Dominik Szoboszlai, returning loanee Lewis Koumas and Federico Chiesa helped Iraola to a win and pleasing efficiency over their fellow Premier League opposition.
However the win was considerably overshadowed by the first-half harm of Gomez and the actual fact fellow defender Jeremy Jacquet sat the match out attributable to a health concern of his personal. It makes the necessity for a brand new defender starkly apparent.
Reds knowledgeable Lewis Steele was within the metropolis of cowboy hats, sizzling hen wings and honky-tonk bars and brings you his key Tennessee takeaways…
Defensive reinforcements are a necessity
It was the sight that no Reds fan, or the switch committee, wished to see.
Simply seven minutes into the Iraola period, he had his first harm casualty to take care of. Welcome to Liverpool, some might joke, given the well-documented issues with health throughout the board for the workforce final season.
Joe Gomez went down off the ball, holding what seemed to be a muscular drawback. He had a grimace on his face and a glance of resignation. The defender missed nearly all of 2024-25 and was out and in of health final time period as his profession continues to be stricken by such points.
The severity of the blow is unclear at this stage and his exit from the pitch might have been merely precautionary – however that doesn’t matter given central defence is an issue space that Iraola famous unprompted in his press convention in Chicago earlier this week.
Joe Gomez was compelled off injured simply 9 minutes into Liverpool’s win over Sunderland
Jeremy Jacquet, the brand new boy signed from Rennes who’s hoping to play a major function this time period, just isn’t match and sat out of this pleasant. It’s understood Liverpool are going fastidiously with the younger Frenchman after he missed half of final season at Rennes, so need to ease him in slowly.
Jacquet’s final sport was February 7 and, even when he was to be nearly as good as everybody on the membership hopes and expects him to be, he’s nonetheless solely 21 and must settle into the bodily calls for of English soccer.
Virgil van Dijk just isn’t on this pre-season tour and has been given an prolonged break, given he performed extra minutes than any participant in Europe final time period. The Dutchman is now 35 and is heading into the ultimate yr of his contract.
The one different senior centre again is Giovanni Leoni, the teenage Italian who signed from Parma this time final yr however solely made one look during which he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and missed the rest of the season. His restoration goes effectively however he’s nonetheless out.
When he’s again, his health will must be managed fastidiously.
It’s also price recalling that Ibrahima Konate, who performed 36 of 38 Premier League video games final yr, left for Actual Madrid on a free switch.
All of those components add as much as one conclusion: Liverpool merely should signal a brand new defender this summer season. Failure to take action leaves them extremely gentle in that space and it might value them dearly.
Morrison takes his probability
Defence just isn’t the one space of the pitch the place Iraola’s males are gentle going into the brand new marketing campaign, which implies there will likely be probabilities for kids to step up.
It has been one of many key themes of pre-season given loads of senior stars are absent from this journey, together with Van Dijk, Alisson, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and new signing Victor Munoz, who gained the World Cup with Spain. Which youngsters can step up?
Right here in Nashville, it was Morrison who did simply that. A aim within the first half was the spotlight after Harvey Elliott – again after a forgettable yr at Aston Villa – threaded a pleasant cross to Morrison, who minimize in off the best flank and curled a shot into the underside nook together with his left foot.
Kieran Morrison scored Liverpool’s opener in a 4-2 win in opposition to Sunderland
The 19-year-old, who can play throughout the ahead line, had a number of different moments of high quality and will have notched an help or two if luck was extra on his aspect.
Northern Eire are attempting to tie down the Manchester-born teenager, who has one senior cap for the nationwide workforce (he must play thrice to make sure England can’t poach him at a later date) – and this efficiency confirmed why.
He joined Liverpool as an Below-14, having spent eight years at Manchester United as a child. With a number of gaps within the ahead line – to not point out a Mohamed Salah-sized gap on the best – might Morrison step up?
We gained’t get carried away primarily based on one pre-season outing however he was the person of the match right here in Tennessee and Iraola should have been impressed. Manchester United’s loss, it could seem, is Liverpool’s achieve.
Which different youngsters stood out?
Whereas the shortage of defensive depth is a obvious challenge and a fear for a lot of, two who could be rubbing their palms are teenage duo Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who each performed nearly all of this match.
Ndiaye, 18, was signed from Senegalese aspect Amitie FC in January having caught the attention on the Below-17 World Cup. He’s a bodily unit, appears calm in possession and is left-footed, which at all times helps. He has made the first-team bench a number of occasions.
Subsequent to him was Austrian teenager Ndukwe, additionally 18. Signed from Austria Wien in January, Ndukwe formally joined up together with his new workforce this summer season. The 6ft 6in defender is one other recognized by international talent-spotter Matt Newberry in an intriguing recruitment drive.
21-year-old James McConnell impressed in midfield for Liverpool
Each performed effectively and could also be wanted this season.
Additional up the sphere, James McConnell was spectacular in midfield, Calum Scanlon caught the attention on the left flank with a number of energetic runs and Josh Abe, who solely turned 16 earlier this month, had some good touches.
Lewis Koumas took his aim with composure after a superb transfer starring additionally Dominik Szoboszlai, who was carrying the captain’s armband.
Chiesa reveals Iraola what he can do
There are a number of notable shortcomings to Federico Chiesa’s sport which have been effectively documented by followers. However one factor he has that may very well be fascinating to Iraola is versatility.
He can play on the best wing, left or, as he did right here, as a No 9. The Italian scored Liverpool’s third with a well-taken end from a decent angle then he performed a beautiful round-the-corner ball within the lead-up to Koumas’s aim.
Chiesa has had a bizarre profession at Liverpool. His first season was a write-off, just about, attributable to harm. The subsequent marketing campaign had some vibrant moments and large targets however, general, he by no means earned the belief of Arne Slot.
Many anticipated he would go away this summer season however is he price maintaining round attributable to his versatility? It’s meals for thought for Iraola.
