NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa celebrates after scoring the third goal during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa celebrates after scoring the third goal during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Federico Chiesa was absent from Liverpool’s pre-season squad to face Wrexham, but the winger has thankfully not joined the growing injury list.
Andoni Iraola named another youthful starting lineup for his second friendly in charge after deciding to leave out the three recent World Cup returnees.
Sixteen-year-old Josh Abe was, therefore, handed his opportunity in attack, further prompted by the absence of Chiesa.
The Italian, according to the Mail‘s Lewis Steele on X, was not named in the matchday squad in New York due to illness.
Mercifully, it is not another injury for Liverpool, who have already seen Joe Gomez succumb to an issue in the first friendly. Still, it is a blow for a player who is trying to prove himself to Iraola.
CHICAGO, USA - Monday, July 20, 2026: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa arrives 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)
CHICAGO, USA - Monday, July 20, 2026: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa arrives 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)
“I am doing the best I can to have a chance here and then we will see,” the No. 14 said after the win against Sunderland over the weekend.
“At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.
“It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the year. Maybe there have been too many fresh starts, but I don’t care. I am trying to do my best for this new manager.”
The hope, and expectation, is he will be fit and available for the final match in the US against Leeds on Sunday evening.
When Gravenberch, Wirtz and Isak will play in pre-season
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak all reported back for training on Sunday, but this match came too soon to be involved after a three-week break following the World Cup.
They, however, are anticipated to mark their return to the matchday squad in the third and final match of the tour in Chicago, where the club have set up their training base.
“We’ve decided the ones that have just been training, Alex, Flo, Ryan, even Jeremy [Jacquet], to leave them for the next game,” Iraola told LFCTV.
“I think they will all be involved against Leeds, and we have work to do today with more young players.”
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool FC v Wrexham AFC
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool FC v Wrexham AFC
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool USA Tour Day 10 – Phil Thompson Interview
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott arrives at the Langham Hotel in New York ahead of the club's second match of their pre-season USA Tour, against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
2026-07-25-236-Liverpool_Sunderland
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola shakes hands with Jeremie Frimpong as he is substituted during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)