Liverpool's American Tour: Iraola's Squad Options Expand

Liverpool’s American tour moves up a gear on Sunday night, and so does the scrutiny on Andoni Iraola.

The new Liverpool manager arrives in Chicago with two pre-season wins in his pocket, a clearer idea of his squad – and, for the first time, something close to his heavyweight cast at his disposal. Leeds provide the opposition; the real test is how quickly Iraola can bend this group to his demanding style.

Iraola’s options grow

The early fixtures against Sunderland and Wrexham were about structure and intensity. This one feels different. This one has stars.

Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are all available after returning from World Cup duty with their countries, adding genuine top-tier quality to a tour that had so far been carried by a blend of senior pros and eager youngsters.

There is also the intriguing possibility of finally seeing £60m defender Jeremy Jacquet in red. His move was announced a year ago but only formally completed in June, and injury has delayed his first real steps with the squad. Chicago could be the night he steps out from the footnotes and into the centre of Iraola’s plans.

Not everyone is ready to go. Spain’s World Cup winner Victor Munoz remains on an extended break after La Roja’s triumph earlier this month. Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister are also still away recharging after a gruelling summer.

At the other end of the spectrum, Joe Gomez has no such luxury. The defender, injured in the Sunderland friendly, is unavailable and now faces a race to make the start of the Premier League season. For a manager who wants aggression and control in his back line, that is a significant early headache.

Shaping a new-look XI

Iraola has been ruthless with his rotations so far. Only Giorgi Mamardashvili and Harvey Elliot have started both games, a clear signal that nobody is being allowed to coast into the new campaign.

That churn will continue in Chicago. At right-back, Jeremie Frimpong is expected to reclaim his spot from Calvin Ramsay, offering the kind of pace and vertical threat Iraola craves on the flanks.

Jacquet could be thrown straight into the heart of defence. If he does, he is likely to be partnered by one of the academy products who have quietly impressed on tour: Luke Chambers, Ifeanyi Ndukwe or Talla Ndiaye. It would be a bold call, but pre-season is when bold calls come with the least risk and the most information.

On the left, Milos Kerkez is set to start ahead of Kostas Tsimikas. Iraola knows exactly what he is getting from Kerkez after their time together at Bournemouth – energy, aggression, and a willingness to play on the front foot. It fits the template.

The midfield picture is more nuanced. Dominik Szoboszlai, one of Liverpool’s brightest performers last season, is in line to start and could be paired with Gravenberch. That combination would give Iraola craft, running power and a genuine goal threat from deep. If the staff decide Gravenberch’s minutes need managing, youngsters Trey Nyoni or James McConnell are ready to step in, and both have already shown they can handle responsibility in these friendlies.

Further forward, the creative burden may shift. Harvey Elliot, ever industrious, could make way for Wirtz, who Iraola has confirmed is now available. Wirtz’s ability to find pockets of space and accelerate attacks with one touch or one pass offers something different, something sharper, to Liverpool’s attacking patterns.

Big chance for Ngumoha and Isak

Not all the intrigue surrounds the established names.

Rio Ngumoha, who scored the winner against Wrexham, has earned the right to expect a start. Young attackers often flicker in pre-season; Ngumoha has done more than that. He has influenced games, not just decorated them, and Iraola will want to see whether that impact holds when the opposition level rises.

Then there is Isak. The striker endured a difficult debut campaign and knows this season cannot follow the same script. With service potentially coming from Szoboszlai, Wirtz and Ngumoha, Chicago offers him the kind of platform every centre-forward craves: a chance to reset, to score, to look like the focal point Liverpool thought they were signing.

Two wins from two have given Iraola a clean runway. Now the names on the teamsheet are getting bigger, the choices more revealing. In Chicago, against Leeds, the outline of his Liverpool will come into sharper focus.