Iraola’s First Match Ends in Victory but Defensive Crisis Deepens

On July 26 2026, Liverpool opened its U.S. pre-season tour with a 4–2 friendly win over Sunderland at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas secured the victory, while Enzo le Fée and Timur Tutierov scored for the Black Cats. Captain Joe Gomez, 29, was forced off after roughly eight minutes, leaving Liverpool to rely on 18-year-old centre-backs Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe for the bulk of the match.

The Guardian

Andoni Iraola took charge of Liverpool in June, succeeding Arne Slot after the latter’s dismissal. The squad entered the tour with several defensive voids: Ibrahima Konaté departed on a free transfer to Real Madrid; Giovanni Leoni continued his recovery from a season-ending ACL rupture; and new signing Jérémy Jacquet, acquired for an initial £55 million (reported elsewhere as £60 million), was still rebuilding fitness after a shoulder injury that ended his previous season at Rennes. Virgil van Dijk, the club’s long-standing defensive leader, remained in Merseyside to manage post-World-Cup workload.

Mirror - UK

• Final score: Liverpool 4 – 2 Sunderland.

HeavyLiverpool 4-2 Sunderland: Andoni Iraola makes winning start to life as Reds head coach The GuardianThe Straits Times

• Liverpool scorers: Kieran Morrison (13´), Dominik Szoboszlai (56´), Federico Chiesa (71´), Lewis Koumas (84´).

Liverpool Echo

• Sunderland scorers: Enzo le Fée (15´), Timur Tutierov (68´).

ChronicleLive | Newcastle Chronicle

• Joe Gomez substituted after ? 8 minutes (some reports state 10 minutes).

Andoni Iraola on pre-season win over Sunderland: 'It will give us a good starting point'

• Teenage centre-backs fielded: Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe.

Liverpool Echo

• Jacquet’s transfer fee: £55 million (alternative figure £60 million).

Mirror - UK

Iraola described the early loss of Gomez as “the worst news” and emphasized that the team had entered training without any injuries until that moment. He reiterated that the defensive roster was “very thin,” noting the absence of Konaté, the ongoing rehabilitation of Leoni, and the precautionary approach with Jacquet, who would likely feature only in the final U.S. friendly. Iraola also confirmed that three post-World-Cup signings—Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch—were already in Chicago and would join training imminently, providing additional options ahead of the remaining tour matches.

The Independent

• Injury timing: Most outlets report Gomez’s exit after eight minutes, while a few describe a ten-minute appearance.

ESPN

• Jacquet’s fee: The transfer fee is cited as £55 million in several sources and £60 million in others, reflecting inconsistent reporting.

Mirror - UK

• “Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe,” — Andoni Iraola, liverpool head coach

ESPN

• “With Jeremy, we decided to take it easy with him,” — Andoni Iraola, liverpool head coach

Sports Illustrated

• “They are already there in Chicago,” — Andoni Iraola, liverpool head coach

ESPN

• “They are already there in Chicago, they are waiting for us, Alex [Isak], Flo [Wirtz] and Ryan [Gravenberch],” — Andoni Iraola, liverpool head coach

Liverpool handed injury blow in pre-season win over Sunderland as Iraola confirms trio’s upcoming return | OneFootball

Liverpool’s pre-season itinerary continues with fixtures against Wrexham in New York, Leeds United in Chicago, AS Monaco and Como before the Premier League campaign begins with an away match at Newcastle United on August 23 2026. The club expects the returning World Cup players—van Dijk, Alisson Becker and others—to resume training at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby in the coming weeks.

Reuters