Liverpool kept their unbeaten run in the build‑up to the 2026/27 campaign alive with a 1-0 win over Wrexham at Yankee Stadium, marking their second triumph of the United States tour. The Reds, now under the stewardship of Andoni Iraola, had already opened the pre‑season with a 2-0 success against Sunderland in Nashville, and the New York fixture presented a sterner test after Wrexham’s recent upsets of Manchester United and Leeds United. The match began with Liverpool forced to reshuffle their back line when Joe Gomez picked up an injury against Sunderland.
Stand‑in captain Dominik Szoboszlai was deployed as a centre‑back, a move that underscored Iraira’s willingness to experiment. Szoboszlai still managed to influence the early attacking play, delivering a pinpoint pass to Harvey Elliott, whose clever flick set up Josh Abe for a low drive that was comfortably saved by former Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward, now guarding Wrexham’s net. The first half was tightly contested, with both sides creating limited chances on a relatively narrow pitch that compressed space and demanded quick, incisive passing. Liverpool’s rhythm improved as the half progressed, and they seemed more cohesive than in their previous outing, a point highlighted by Iraola in the post‑match interview.
At the interval, Iraola introduced four changes, most notably teenage prospect Rio Ngumoha. The 18‑year‑old burst onto the scene, using his pace and directness to unsettle the Wrexham defence. In the 75th minute, Ngumoha drove forward, clipped a ball that deflected off a defender and looped over the line, delivering the decisive goal that proved to be the only one of the night.
The goal sparked celebrations among the traveling Liverpool supporters and cemented Ngumoha’s status as a potential future first‑team regular. Wrexham’s striker Kieffer Moore had a chance to equalise in the dying minutes, but his attempt from close range was mishit, sending the ball wide of the post. Liverpool held firm, preserving a perfect record of two wins from two matches on American soil.
Looking ahead, the squad will head to Chicago for a showdown with Leeds United on Sunday. That encounter is expected to feature several high‑profile newcomers, including German midfielder Florian Wirtz, Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, and Swedish forward Alexander Isak, all of whom have begun training after early exits from the World Cup.
Iraola indicated that these players, along with recent signing Jeremy Jacquet, will likely receive their first minutes of pre‑season action against Leeds, as he aims to integrate senior talent gradually. In his media briefing, Iraola reflected on the team's progress: "Overall we were more solid than the other day. The pitch is quite narrow and there are not a lot of spaces, but we had good spells. Even if we scored more goals in the previous game, today we were more of a team and more collective." He admitted that the side still has work to do to fully embody his tactical identity, noting occasional late arrivals into the final third but emphasizing the incremental improvement from the first half against Sunderland to the second half against Wrexham.
The manager also spoke about the broader objectives of the tour, stressing the importance of blending youthful energy with experienced heads. "We are adding new bodies, because now we are playing with a lot of the young players.
We have to add the senior players that are starting to train with us, so we can arrive to the beginning of the season in a good place," he said. Iraola’s plans for the upcoming Chicago fixture involve rotating the squad to give minutes to both emerging talents and established internationals. He expects the likes of Wirtz, Gravenberch and Isak to showcase their abilities, providing fans a glimpse of the attacking options that could shape Liverpool’s campaign.
The manager also hinted that Jeremy Jacquet, a recent acquisition, may feature, underscoring his commitment to evaluating every new signing in a competitive environment. The tour’s schedule continues with Liverpool set to host Monaco at Anfield on August 9, followed by a match against Como on August 16. These fixtures will offer further opportunities for the manager to fine‑tune his tactics, assess player fitness, and solidify the squad’s chemistry before the Premier League season kicks off. Overall, the win in New York not only extended Liverpool’s flawless pre‑season record but also highlighted the evolving dynamics under Iraola’s leadership.
The blend of tactical adjustments, youth integration, and strategic use of senior players points toward a thoughtful preparation phase that could pay dividends once the competitive season begins.