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.