Andoni Iraola was pleased with how his team played against Sunderland as Liverpool kicked off its pre-season tour, but the injury to Joe Gomez was far from welcome news
01:38, 26 Jul 2026Updated 01:44, 26 Jul 2026
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during a press conference.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during a press conference.(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola was unable to offer a full diagnosis on the injury that Joe Gomez sustained against Sunderland, with the center-back limping off just seven minutes into the first summer friendly.
But the Reds boss expects to have Jeremy Jacquet back available again before the end of the US tour after the Frenchman sat out the game in Nashville with a minor injury issue being managed.
Gomez appeared to pick up a muscle injury, but Iraola couldn't offer any further detail when he was asked by LFCTV about the setback. The 28-year-old will be assessed and no risks will be taken moving forward.
"The worst news straight away was the injury of Joe," Iraola said. "We were happy because we were going through all those trainings without losing any players, and unluckily for us, straight away, we have lost Joe."
Jacquet, the Spaniard explained, will be back soon, while Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch will train with their teammates tomorrow. They have now arrived in Chicago, where the Reds are based.
Having missed several months through injury already this calendar year, Liverpool took extra care with Jacquet. His absence was primarily precautionary.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JULY 25: Liverpool's Joe Gomez is injured during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at GEODIS Park on July 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Joe Gomez goes down injured during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland at GEODIS Park on July 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee(Image: Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Image)
"He has been training very well," Iraola said. "He will play probably the last game of this US tour."
Giovanni Leoni is still not available as he comes back from an ACL injury, while Virgil van Dijk is not set to rejoin his teammates until they are back in the UK.
Conor Bradley, Iraola said last week, could yet be out for another few months.
It means, around a month before the new season starts, that Liverpool looks very light at the back. Young center-back duo Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe were excellent against Sunderland, but can't be relied on every week.
Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kits
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
From $100
LFC.com
See the deal
Liverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.
Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world.
Article continues below
Iraola and Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes are well aware that there is more work to be done this summer. The clock is also ticking towards the September 1 deadline.
"There are obvious situations that we know where we need to sign players," Iraola said last week. "A winger, for example — we definitely need to sign a winger."
He went on to add: "With the center-back, with the right-back situation, in terms of defensive depth, we are, I think, very thin right now, so I think it’s a solution that we are trying to find, yes."