Liverpool kept their flawless start to the Andoni Iraola era alive with a narrow 1‑0 triumph over Wrexham in their second friendly of the 2026/27 pre‑season campaign. The match, staged at New York’s iconic Yankee Stadium, saw the Reds edge past a Wrexham side that had recently impressed by defeating both Manchester United and Leeds United in separate fixtures. Having already opened their American tour with a win against Sunderland in Nashville, Liverpool travelled to the United States’ biggest city for a sterner test.
The Welsh outfit, fresh off victories over two of England’s most storied clubs, were eager to prove that their recent form could translate into a result against a top‑flight opponent. In the end, it was a single moment of teenage brilliance that decided the encounter. The game began with Liverpool forced to reshuffle their back line after Joe Gomez suffered a knock in the Sunderland match.
Stand‑in captain Dominik Szoboszlai, normally a creative midfielder, was deployed as a makeshift centre‑back. Despite the positional shift, Szoboszlai remained a threat going forward. Early in the first half he delivered a pinpoint pass to Harvey Elliott, who in turn set up Josh Abe for a low strike that was comfortably saved by former Liverpool custodian Danny Ward, now guarding Wrexham’s goal.
The first half was a tight, cagey affair, with both sides probing for openings on a relatively narrow pitch that limited the amount of space available for expansive play. Iraola’s men showed improved defensive cohesion compared with the previous game in Nashville, a point the manager highlighted in his post‑match interview. He praised the collective effort and noted that, while the side may not have produced as many goals, they displayed a more united, disciplined approach. At the interval, Iraola introduced four changes, among them the debut of teenage prospect Rio Ngumoha.
The youngster, who has been turning heads in the academy, immediately made an impact. In the 75th minute, Ngumoha surged forward, taking on the heart of the Wrexham defence.
After a series of quick passes, he unleashed a shot that deflected off a defender and looped into the back of the net, giving Liverpool the decisive lead with just fifteen minutes remaining. Wrexham responded with urgency.
Their striker Kieffer Moore found himself in a promising position in the closing stages but failed to convert, mis‑timing his finish from close range. Liverpool, buoyed by the lead, held firm and saw out the match, securing their second successive win on American soil.
The victory sets up a continuation of the tour, as the Reds will head to Chicago for a final friendly against Leeds United on Sunday. That match promises to feature several high‑profile signings who have been training in the United States following early exits from the World Cup. Florian Wirtz, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexander Isak – all expected to make their first pre‑season appearances for Liverpool – will join the squad in Chicago, alongside new acquisition Jeremy Jacquet. Iraola, speaking to the club’s media after the Wrexham game, was candid about the progress his side still needs to make.
He acknowledged that the team was more solid than in Nashville, but admitted that they were not yet fully comfortable in his system. "We sometimes arrive too late in transitions," he said, "but it’s a step forward, especially after the first half against Sunderland." He added that the integration of senior players who have had fewer training sessions will be crucial as the season approaches. "We have to start slowly integrating more of the senior players," Iraola explained, "so that by the start of the season we are in a good place." Looking ahead, the manager confirmed that the likes of Wirtz, Gravenberch and Isak will feature against Leeds, giving fans a glimpse of how the new signings fit into his tactical blueprint. "My idea is for Ryan, Florian, Alex and even Jacquet to have their first minutes against Leeds," he said.
"We’ll see how many minutes they can play, but we need to ease them in." The schedule for Liverpool’s pre‑season continues with the following fixtures: - August 2: Liverpool vs Leeds United – Chicago, 9 p.m. - August 9: Liverpool vs Monaco – Anfield, 2.30 p.m. - August 16: Liverpool vs Como – Anfield, 6 p.m.
These matches will provide further opportunities for the manager to fine‑tune his squad, blend youth with experience, and solidify the playing style he envisions for the upcoming campaign. As the tour progresses, the Reds aim to maintain their unbeaten run, build confidence, and ensure that the new signings are ready to contribute when the Premier League season kicks off later this year. Overall, the New York victory highlighted Liverpool’s growing defensive solidity, the emergence of promising talent like Ngumoha, and the gradual integration of senior internationals. While the win was narrow, it underscored a team that is beginning to click under Iraola’s guidance, laying a promising foundation for what could be an exciting season ahead.