Andoni Iraola is expected to have 27 players to choose from as Liverpool face Wrexham in New York, which should see the head coach field two different XIs.
Iraola used a total of 22 players as Liverpool kicked off their pre-season tour with a 4-2 friendly win over Sunderland in Nashville.
While there weren’t wholesale changes at half-time as anticipated, the Spaniard made use of all but one outfield player in that victory, with 18-year-old Josh Sonni-Lambie going unused.
The same is likely as Liverpool face Championship side Wrexham at Yankee Stadium – so how could they line up in New York?
Liverpool Squad Available vs. Wrexham
Goalkeepers: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Davies, Hall
Defenders: Ndukwe, Ndiaye, Kerkez, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Chambers, Ramsay, Scanlon
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Jones, Elliott, Nyoni, McConnell
Forwards: Isak, Ngumoha, Chiesa, Morrison, Wright, Abe, Koumas, Sonni-Lambie
Liverpool predicted XIs vs. Sunderland: Emergency centre-backs
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe after a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe after a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Joe Gomez and Jeremy Jacquet both expected to miss out, Iraola is already faced with a familiar problem for Liverpool managers: a shortage of centre-backs.
His only specialist options are 18-year-olds Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye, meaning emergency options will come into play.
To field two different XIs, Iraola could start Giorgi Mamardashvili behind a back four of Jeremie Frimpong, Ryan Gravenberch, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Kostas Tsimikas.
In a change of combinations from the Sunderland friendly, Curtis Jones can partner Trey Nyoni in a two-man midfield.
Kieran Morrison and Rio Ngumoha are available to provide the wide threat with Harvey Elliott in the No. 10 role and Federico Chiesa up front.
That is likely to be considered the stronger of the two XIs, while still reserving some key starters for the second half:
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Gravenberch, Ndiaye, Tsimikas; Jones, Nyoni; Morrison, Elliott, Ngumoha; Chiesa
Iraola may not change his lineup completely at half-time, but there is more of a possibility now given the options available to him.
Freddie Woodman is the obvious stand-in for Mamardashvili with Alisson still on holiday, while Calvin Ramsay and Milos Kerkez offer quality at full-back.
An unorthodox pairing of Ndukwe and Luke Chambers may be required at centre-back – particularly with Gravenberch only having just returned along with Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Dominik Szoboszlai may drop into a deeper role alongside James McConnell with Wirtz available as No. 10.
Josh Abe and Lewis Koumas will be looking to make their mark again out wide, while Isak could get 45 minutes unless Will Wright is used to manage the Swede’s minutes.
Woodman; Ramsay, Ndukwe, Chambers, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, McConnell; Abe, Wirtz, Koumas; Isak
Those two XIs would leave Wright, Sonni-Lambie and left-sider Calum Scanlon on the bench, with it not impossible that Iraola opts to use all of his outfielders over the course of the game.
Liverpool could then welcome Jacquet back for the tour closer against Leeds in Chicago as the squad edges closer to full strength.
Football – FA Premier League – Everton FC v Bournemouth AFC
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Bournemouth's Rayan Vitor Simplício Rocha celebrates after scoring his side's first and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Bournemouth AFC at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
away-training-kit
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool USA Tour Day 3
CHICAGO, USA - Wednesday, July 22, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola stops to sign autographs for supporters as he returns to the team hotel after a morning training session in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)