FOOTBALL
Posted on July 28, 2026 6:00 pm | Updated on July 28, 2026 10:17 am Joe Gomez injury adds to Liverpool’s growing defensive worries before new season.
Liverpool
Full name: Liverpool Football Club Nickname: The Reds Founded: 3 June 1892 Ground: Anfield Owner: Fenway Sports Group Chairman: Tom Werner Head coach: Andoni Iraola League: Premier League Season 2025-26: 5th rank Website: liverpoolfc.com Liverpool Football Club is in the… Read More about LIVERPOOL
Andoni Iraola’s first game in charge of Liverpool ended in a 4-2 victory over Sunderland in Nashville. Joe Gomez took Liverpool centre stage for the wrong reasons, as news of his injury overshadowed the win.
Joe Gomez blow mars opening friendly win
Iraola picked Joe Gomez to start at centre-back and wear the armband in the first game of the tour. Just eight minutes in, Gomez went down hurt and had to come off, leaving Iraola with an early problem. As reported by BBC, Iraola said: “We were happy in training, and then we lost Joe straight away.”
Iraola was also without new signing Jeremy Jacquet, who is still working on his match fitness. As reported by Goal, Jacquet will be brought in slowly and could feature in the last tour game. Virgil van Dijk was given time off after the World Cup, two young defenders held the back line instead.
Two 18-year-old defenders, Mor Talla N’diaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, were given their first team debuts on the night. Both did well and held their spot until the 68th minute, though neither would be expected to play regular football yet given their age. Giovanni Leoni, only 19, is still recovering from a serious ACL injury he suffered earlier this year. There is no firm return date yet, but he has resumed some solo sessions on the training ground.
Gomez’s stats in the 2025-26 season, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Tackles Interceptions Duels Won%
Premier League 21 10 9 39.4%
FA Cup 4 4 2 50%
UCL 6 1 5 33.3%
EFL Cup 2 2 2 70%
Young talent shines in Nashville
As reported by BBC, Kieran Morrison opened the scoring with a fine finish after a driving run from Harvey Elliott. Elliott was making his first appearance since a loan spell at Aston Villa, and he looked lively throughout. Sunderland hit back through Timur Tutierov and Enzo le Fee, but Szoboszlai levelled from distance. Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas both scored late on to complete a fine 4-2 win.
This kind of attack up front will excite fans, but the Premier League will demand more from the defence. The coach clearly wants his side to play bold, attacking football, and Friday’s four goals prove the approach can work. Josh Abe, who turned 16 last week, made his debut and carried the ball down the right with real threat. Calvin Ramsay set up Chiesa’s goal with a precise cross from deep on the right wing.
Defensive depth remains a concern
The boss had already flagged his thin defence before the game, and Gomez’s injury made matters worse. Sporting director Richard Hughes watched on from the stands, and the number of teenagers in defence will not go unnoticed. The Reds pressed well in spells, but both Sunderland goals came from gaps that should not open up so easily. Enzo le Fee had too much room to shoot, a gap that will not last in the Premier League. Iraola said the score did not matter as much as staying sharp and not getting too relaxed.
Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch have now joined the group in Chicago for training. Liverpool face Wrexham next in New York, and Iraola will hope for a tighter defence display. The result was pleasing, but the real test will come once the Premier League season begins, as Iraola knows well.
Liverpool’s young players, from N’diaye to Abe, have shown genuine promise on this tour. Still, senior cover in defence matters most before the Premier League season begins in August. Hughes and Iraola both know one win in Nashville will mean little if the injury list keeps growing.
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Deepanjali Bhardwaj
Deepanjali Bhardwaj is the Sports Editor at Six Sports, where she leads editorial coverage across cricket, football, and other major sporting events. She oversees newsroom operations, editorial planning, story development, and publishing standards while ensuring every article meets Six Sports' commitment to accuracy, transparency, and responsible journalism. She works closely with writers, editors, and contributors to deliver timely news, match reports, analysis, features, and explainers covering domestic and international competitions. Her editorial approach focuses on factual reporting, clear analysis, and reader-first journalism, helping audiences stay informed about the latest developments across the sporting world. As Sports Editor, Deepanjali plays a key role in maintaining the publication's editorial quality, consistency, and independence while guiding coverage of major leagues, tournaments, teams, and athletes.
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