Liverpool kept their flawless start to the Andoni Iraola era alive by edging out Wrexham 1‑0 in the second of their pre‑season fixtures ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. After a convincing win over Sunderland in Nashville, the Reds travelled across the Atlantic to the iconic Yankee Stadium in New York for a sterner test against a Wrexham side that had recently upset both Manchester United and Leeds United. The match began with a surprise tactical adjustment when stand‑in captain Dominik Szoboszlai was drafted into the centre‑back role after a late‑game injury forced Joe Gomez off against the Black Cats. Szoboszlai quickly proved his versatility, linking up in the first half to find Harvey Elliott with a precise pass.
Elliott, in turn, set up Josh Abe, whose shot was comfortably saved by former Liverpool custodian Danny Ward, who now guards Wrexham's net. At the interval, Iraola made four changes to his starting eleven, one of which introduced teenage prospect Rio Ngumoha. The young attacker made an immediate impact, storming the heart of the Wrexham defence. His drive culminated in a deflected effort that looped into the back of the net with just fifteen minutes remaining, providing the sole goal of the encounter and sealing the victory for Liverpool.
Wrexham had a chance to level the score late on when striker Kieffer Moore found himself in a promising position inside the box, but his attempt was mishit, allowing the Liverpool defence to retain the lead. The Reds held firm, completing a 2‑0 record in the United States. Following the match, the squad will head to Chicago for their final American showcase against Leeds United on Sunday. That fixture is expected to feature a host of high‑profile players making their first pre‑season appearances, including German star Florian Wirtz, Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, and Swedish forward Alexander Isak.
All three have already begun training in Chicago after early exits from the World Cup and will be joined by their teammates for what promises to be a marquee clash. In the post‑match press conference, Iraola was candid about the progress his side has made and the work that still lies ahead. "Overall we were more solid than the other day," he said.
"It was a different kind of game – the pitch is quite narrow and there isn’t a lot of space. Still, we had good spells and, even though we scored more goals in the previous match, today we were more of a team and more collective." He added that the team is still finding its identity under his philosophy. "We sometimes arrive too late, but it’s a step forward, especially compared with the first half against Sunderland. That is more of a reference than the second half.
Slowly, I hope each game we get closer and closer. We are starting to add 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 at the beginning of the season in a good place." Iraola also confirmed that the upcoming match against Leeds will see a rotation that includes some of his most experienced signings.
He specifically mentioned that Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and new signing Jeremy Jacquet are all expected to get their first minutes of the pre‑season on Sunday. "We'll see how many minutes they can play, but we have to start slowly integrating more of the senior players that have had fewer training sessions.
I think they should be ready on the weekend to have their first minutes," the manager explained. The itinerary for Liverpool’s American tour continues with a home fixture against Monaco at Anfield on August 9, followed by a match against Como on August 16, also at Anfield. These games will provide further opportunities for the manager to assess the blend of youth and experience he is assembling, as well as to fine‑tune tactical patterns before the Premier League campaign kicks off.
Beyond the on‑field action, the club is also promoting its digital platforms, urging fans to download the Sky Sports app and follow the team on WhatsApp for the latest updates, news, and exclusive content. The pre‑season tour, while primarily a preparation phase, also serves as a marketing vehicle to engage the global fanbase and showcase the new era under Iraola. In summary, Liverpool’s narrow victory over Wrexham in New York highlights a team that is beginning to coalesce around a new tactical identity, while still relying heavily on youthful energy and the gradual integration of senior talent.
The upcoming matches in Chicago and back in England will be crucial in cementing the squad’s cohesion and ensuring they enter the new season with confidence and a clear sense of purpose.