Worn in the USA: Liverpool’s pre-season tour had highs but exposed glaring gaps in the squad | Andy Hunter
Andoni Iraola's first pre-season tour as Liverpool head coach delivered mixed results, with wins over Sunderland and Wrexham followed by a 4-2 defeat to Leeds in Chicago, underlining how much work remains before the Premier League opener at Newcastle. The Basque coach has still not met several senior players, including Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and new signing Víctor Muñoz, and has had to build his approach around a squad missing up to 14 first-teamers through post-World Cup leave or injury, leaving little time to embed his more intense, front-footed style.
The tour also exposed persistent problems, notably set-piece vulnerability and defensive lapses that plagued Liverpool last season, along with a lack of transfer activity despite known needs. Mohamed Salah's exit was confirmed back in March, yet five months on no replacement has been signed, while Conor Bradley's knee injury leaves the club short at right-back. Central defence remains a concern too, with young prospects Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye impressing but Ndukwe barred from playing this season due to post-Brexit work permit rules, and the injury-prone Joe Gomez seen as a bonus rather than a reliable starter.
- Liverpool's US tour ended in a 4-2 loss to Leeds
- Iraola still hasn't met several key first-team players
- Squad gaps remain at right-back, centre-back and Salah's replacement
New here? Start with this
Liverpool are one of English football’s biggest clubs and play in the Premier League. Their head coach, Andoni Iraola, is preparing the team for the new season after taking charge, while trying to introduce a more attacking, high-pressure style. Pre-season tours give coaches time to work with players, but Liverpool travelled with many senior squad members absent through injury or post-World Cup leave.
The tour results included wins against Sunderland and Wrexham and a defeat to Leeds, but the matches also highlighted questions about defending, especially at set pieces. The squad has gaps in several positions: Mohamed Salah has left without a replacement signed, and Conor Bradley’s injury leaves limited cover at right-back. Liverpool’s younger defenders have shown promise, though rules prevent Ifeanyi Ndukwe from playing this season, while Joe Gomez has struggled with injuries.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Pre-season performances carry limited predictive value, particularly when a new manager is introducing his methods to a squad missing fourteen senior players through international leave and injury recovery. Judgements about squad adequacy should await competitive league matches when the full squad is available and Iraola has had sufficient time to build cohesion and embed his tactical approach. The work permit complications and transfer timing represent complex decisions that cannot be fairly assessed from a summer tour alone.
The case against
Liverpool's concerns reflect structural issues rather than temporary pre-season handicaps. Defensive weaknesses and set-piece vulnerabilities have persisted since last season, indicating systemic problems rather than situational ones. Five months after Mohamed Salah's departure was confirmed, the club has failed to secure a replacement winger, and with Conor Bradley injured and Ifeanyi Ndukwe barred from playing by work permit rules, the squad appears genuinely undermanned in critical positions with no clear remedial strategy evident before the season opener.