Iraola tests his new Liverpool against Leeds in Chicago
On Sunday at 21:00 (Brasília time, subject to the local time zone) Liverpool face Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago in pre-season. After beating Sunderland and Wrexham in earlier friendlies, Andoni Iraola now has heavyweight names available again, back from international duty after the World Cup.
Reinforcements available and absences that hurt
The Basque coach will be able to call on Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, all reintegrated into the group after their countries’ involvement in the tournament. Another new face is Jeremy Jacquet, signed for £60 million a year ago but whose transfer was only completed in June – he may finally make his debut after a spell out injured.
Not all the news is good, though. Victor Munoz, the Spaniard who has just joined the squad, remains on extended leave after winning the World Cup with Spain. Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister have also yet to return from the rest periods granted by the club. Joe Gomez, meanwhile, picked up a physical problem in the friendly against Sunderland and is a doubt even for the start of the Premier League.
The list of long-term absentees remains extensive: Stefan Bajcetic, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni are all still training away from the main group.
Constant rotation and the likely line-up
Iraola has made significant changes for every match of the American tour. So far only goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and midfielder Harvey Elliott have started both games played. The expectation is that the coach will again shuffle the side heavily against Leeds.
Jeremie Frimpong should reclaim the right-back slot from Calvin Ramsay, while Jacquet could start alongside one of the academy youngsters – Luke Chambers, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Talla Ndiaye are competing for the place in central defence. On the left, Milos Kerkez, who worked with Iraola at Bournemouth, should begin ahead of Kostas Tsimikas.
In midfield Dominik Szoboszlai, one of last season’s standouts, pairs with Gravenberch, with Trey Nyoni and James McConnell as options if there is rotation. Further forward, Florian Wirtz – already confirmed available by Iraola – could take Elliott’s place. Rio Ngumoha, who scored the winner against Wrexham, looks likely to keep his starting spot, while Alexander Isak is trying to rediscover his eye for goal after a first season below expectations at Anfield.
Predicted line-up and match details
Probable Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Jacquet, Ndiaye, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Abe; Isak.
- Doubts: Bajcetic and Endo
- Injured: Gomez, Bradley, Ekitike and Leoni
- Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago
The match marks another step in the tactical rebuild proposed by Iraola, who took charge after leaving Bournemouth. With the Premier League knocking at the door, every minute on the pitch in the United States serves as a gauge for settling on personnel and systems before the official opener.
