Andoni Iraola welcomed three major stars to his U.S. preseason camp this week, but they stayed at the Chicago base and missed out on facing Wrexham in New York City
00:16, 30 Jul 2026
Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Ryan Gravenberch all missed the trip to NYC
Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Ryan Gravenberch all missed the trip to NYC
Liverpool traveled to New York City without Alexander Isak, Ryan Gravenberch, and Florian Wirtz for Wednesday's preseason clash against Wrexham, with the soccer stars staying in Chicago, where the club is based for the U.S. tour.
After beating Sunderland 4-2 in Nashville, Liverpool saw plans to arrive in New York City disrupted by the weather. The roster was intended to fly on Tuesday night, but ended up making arrangements on Wednesday morning, leaving certain members in Chicago.
Federico Chiesa was one of those who missed out on the match squad on Wednesday, but the Italian is dealing with an illness. However, Wednesday's game came too soon for Isak, Gravenberch, and Wirtz.
The Liverpool preseason roster expanded this week, as Isak, Gravenberch, and Wirtz arrived late in Chicago following their summer break. All three players competed in the FIFA World Cup, though their respective nations failed to make a deep run.
They returned to training this week, but fans became skeptical when seeing photos and videos of the team arriving in New York City. Neither of the three stars was pictured, with the attention placed mainly on Dominik Szoboszlai.
As the lineups were announced, it was communicated at Yankee Stadium that Isak, Gravenberch, and Wirtz were left back in Chicago. Instead, head coach Andoni Iraola named a youthful starting lineup.
Gravenberch also missed the game despite joining the tour while Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo are in the UK
Gravenberch also missed the game despite joining the tour while Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo are in the UK(Image: Photo by Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Szoboszlai was handed the armband for Wednesday's game and was by far the most senior member involved. However, Harvey Elliott was also handed another start, as he aims to win Iraola over this summer after being deemed surplus to requirements by Arne Slot.
Elliott has still been linked with a summer transfer away, with Leeds United a rumored destination. Elliott joined Aston Villa last season, but barely featured due to an obligatory clause.
The Liverpool midfielder joined Villa with a $35 million obligation-to-buy clause, though Elliott needed to make a minimum number of appearances to trigger it. With Unai Emery realizing early that he did not want to sign Elliott, he was frozen out.
Harvey Elliott is back with Liverpool after his brutal loan at Aston Villa
Harvey Elliott is back with Liverpool after his brutal loan at Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
It was a difficult season for Elliott, who thought that his Liverpool career had ended, only to discover that he wasn't wanted at Villa. The coaching change may have boosted his mood and chances of making an unexpected comeback.
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Iraola was asked if Elliott had a future heading into this summer, with the 23-year-old still holding a strong resale value. "Definitely," Iraola said. "Harvey is here with us, I have seen him with the eagerness to show up, get super ready, he’ll have a chance in pre-season, we’ll need him and it’s a good sign."
Before the U.S. tour began, Iraola was working with the rest of the fringe and academy players and got to know the talent attempting to secure a roster spot. "I’ve had one week to see the U21s, first-team players there before too, some of them, so they are in a better shape," Iraola said before the tour.
"I’ve seen a few here today who are ready for testing tomorrow, so I get in touch with every player and the young players and loan players more minutes on the pitch, academy players, maybe I wouldn’t know them normally but now I get to know them more."