Liverpool vs Leeds: Iraola's New Era in Chicago

Liverpool’s American tour steps up a gear on Sunday night in Chicago, where Andoni Iraola’s brisk new era runs into its next examination against Leeds United.

Two pre-season games, two wins, and now a stronger hand to play.

Iraola’s options grow in Chicago

After beating Sunderland and Wrexham with mixed line-ups and heavy rotation, Iraola finally has some of his headline names back in the fold. Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have all reported for duty following World Cup commitments and are in contention to feature at Soldier Field.

The Liverpool manager has already used these early friendlies to send a clear message: nobody’s shirt is safe. Only Giorgi Mamardashvili and Harvey Elliot have started both games so far, with Iraola constantly shuffling his pack and testing combinations.

That pattern is likely to continue against Leeds, but this time with more star power.

New faces, delayed arrivals

The intrigue around £60m defender Jeremy Jacquet finally moves from paperwork to pitch. His transfer was announced a year ago but only formally completed in June, and an untimely injury delayed his integration. Now, the centre-back is in line not just to feature, but potentially to start.

He could be paired with one of the club’s academy products – Luke Chambers, Ifeanyi Ndukwe or Talla Ndiaye – as Iraola weighs up his defensive hierarchy ahead of the Premier League opener.

At full-back, the picture is clearer. Jeremie Frimpong is expected to reclaim the right-back slot from Calvin Ramsay, while Milos Kerkez, a familiar face from Iraola’s Bournemouth days, should start on the left ahead of Kostas Tsimikas. It’s a back line that hints at the aggression and athleticism the Spaniard wants as standard.

Not everyone is ready to rejoin the grind. Spain international Victor Munoz, another new signing, remains on an extended break after La Roja’s World Cup triumph earlier this month. Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister are also still away, their summer extended by deep runs on the international stage.

Injury concerns and midfield battles

There is one significant concern. Joe Gomez, injured in the win over Sunderland last weekend, is unavailable in Chicago and already looks a doubt for the start of the Premier League season. For a manager trying to bed in a new defensive structure, that is an unwelcome complication.

Midfield, by contrast, looks like a crowded room. Dominik Szoboszlai, one of Liverpool’s standout performers last season, is pushing to start and could line up alongside Gravenberch if Iraola opts to unleash both from the off. If he chooses a lighter touch with his senior players, youngsters Trey Nyoni or James McConnell are ready to step in again, having already been trusted with starts this summer.

Further forward, the creative axis may shift. Harvey Elliot, ever willing and one of only two constant starters so far, could make way for Wirtz. The German playmaker is now available and offers a different kind of threat between the lines – sharper turns, quicker combinations, a more direct route to goal.

A chance for redemption up front

Up front, all eyes drift towards Alexander Isak. His debut campaign at the club never quite caught fire, and pre-season can be a forgiving place or a ruthless one. In Chicago, he has a chance to reset the narrative. Iraola may hand him the No 9 role from the start, looking for early signs that the striker can anchor this new-look attack.

Out wide, Rio Ngumoha has earned another opportunity. He scored the winner against Wrexham and played with the sort of fearlessness that tends to catch a new manager’s eye. Performances like that in July and August can reshape a season, and the teenager has put himself firmly in the conversation.

Third win, or first warning?

Two games in, Liverpool have rhythm, results and now returning stars. Leeds will offer a sterner test than Sunderland or Wrexham, and Chicago feels like the night when Iraola’s ideas start to resemble something closer to his Premier League plan.

The rotations will continue, the experiments will roll on, but the standard is already clear. With Jacquet finally on the grass, Wirtz ready to step in, and Isak under the spotlight, this is no longer just about fitness.

In a city that loves its sport loud and unforgiving, Liverpool’s new boss goes hunting for a third straight win – and a little more proof that his reshaped side is moving in the right direction.