Andoni Iraola provides a fitness update on Joe Gomez and Jeremy Jacquet after Liverpool's 4-2 win over Sunderland in Nashville
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JULY 25: Andoni Iraola of Liverpool yells a play during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at GEODIS Park on July 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola during the friendly match between Liverpool and Sunderland at GEODIS Park on July 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee(Image: Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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Andoni Iraola admits the injury to Joe Gomez is “the worst news” of Liverpool’s pre-season tour so far.
But the new head coach says he expects Jeremy Jacquet to feature in the final pre-season fixture of the United States trip, against Leeds United on August 2.
Joe Gomez captained the side that beat Sunderland 4-2 at GEODIS Park in Nashville on Saturday but lasted just eight minutes before being withdrawn.
It's unclear at this stage what the severity of the problem is, but the long-serving defender was able to walk off the pitch before Ifeanyi Ndukwe replaced him, partnering fellow teenager Mor Talla Ndiaye.
“Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe,” Iraola said.
“We were happy because we were going through training without losing any players and unluckily for us we’ve lost Joe straight away.”
Summer signing Jacquet didn't feature against Sunderland with the club keen to build up more fitness through training after season-ending shoulder surgery in February.
And Iraola also provided an update on the £60m centre-half's condition following the victory.
He says he expects Jacquet to be available for the game against Leeds United at Chicago's Soldier Field next Sunday, adding to LFCTV: "With Jeremy we decided to take it easy with him.
"He’s had a lot of months without playing with his shoulder injury, he’s been training very well, but we’re going to take it easy with him.
“He will play probably in the last game of this US tour, he will have time to have minutes, but we were kind of happy, but we’ve lost one now.”
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 pulls up injured during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Sunderland(Image: Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
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Liverpool will now fly back to their Chicago base before a trip to New York to meet Championship side Wrexham on July 30 (July 31 in the UK)
Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch will resume training with the Reds in Chicago and could come into contention for the game against Wrexham..