Liverpool concluded their United States tour with a 4-2 defeat to Leeds United in Chicago, leaving manager Andoni Iraola with concerns regarding squad depth and second-half performance.
Key facts
- •Luke Chambers scored the opening goal for Liverpool in the seventh minute.
- •Florian Wirtz scored Liverpool's second goal in the 40th minute following an assist from Jeremie Frimpong.
- •Liverpool conceded four goals in a 25-minute span during the second half.
- •Trey Nyoni, who played 229 minutes in the 2025-26 season, received praise from Iraola for his pre-season performance.
- •Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who cost a combined £225 million last summer, both started the match.
Liverpool ended their pre-season tour of the United States with a 4-2 loss against Leeds United in Chicago. Manager Andoni Iraola described the match as a tale of two halves, noting that while the first half was among the team's best under his tenure, the second half saw them concede four goals in 25 minutes. The defeat highlighted issues with squad depth, physicality, and set-piece defending.
By the numbers
Performance and Tactical Observations
The first half featured strong performances from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, with Wirtz scoring following a team move involving Jeremie Frimpong and Trey Nyoni. Luke Chambers also scored in the seventh minute after a corner from Szoboszlai. However, the intensity dropped significantly after the break, with Iraola noting that senior players including Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa struggled during the second half. Iraola acknowledged that the match provided useful, albeit difficult, lessons. He expressed concern over the ease with which Leeds scored against an inexperienced defensive line that included Calvin Ramsay, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Mor Talla Ndiaye, and Kostas Tsimikas. The manager indicated that the performance would influence his upcoming decisions regarding squad composition as the season approaches.
Squad Developments and Future Planning
Iraola is set to meet with Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Alisson Becker, and new signing Victor Munoz at the AXA Training Centre in the coming days. Alexis Mac Allister remains the only first-team player yet to meet with the manager, having been granted extended leave following Argentina's World Cup campaign. Munoz, who did not play during Spain's tournament run, is expected to return early to begin integration. Regarding the transfer market, Liverpool made no new signings during their two-week tour in America. Iraola stated that he wanted to evaluate the existing squad before finalizing any personnel changes. The manager also addressed the uncertainty of the August transfer window, noting the difficulty of planning when player departures and arrivals remain unresolved.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Sport.
