Liverpool notched their second win in the United States, with Rio Ngumoha‘s deflected effort securing a 1-0 win over Wrexham in New York.
Liverpool 1-0 Wrexham
Pre-Season Friendly (2) | Yankee Stadium | July 29, 2026
Goal
Ngumoha 75′
16-year-old starts but World Cup trio left out
The first glimpse of Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak under Andoni Iraola was forced to wait, with the trio left out after only reporting back for pre-season on Sunday.
The trio are expected to feature against Leeds on the weekend before the team travel back to Merseyside.
It was, therefore, another youthful XI from Andoni Iraola in New York – headlined by 16-year-old Josh Abe starting on the right wing – as the Spaniard continues to navigate a depleted squad with Joe Gomez and Jeremy Jacquet missing out.
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool players line-up for a team group photograph before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Full-back Luke Chambers and teenager Ifeanyi Ndukwe started at centre-back, with Milos Kerkez providing the experience in the backline as Calvin Ramsay started on the opposite flank.
Dominik Szoboszlai donned the captain’s armband and joined Trey Nyoni in midfield, with Harvey Elliott sitting ahead of the pair to offer the creative outlet.
Key Team News
Missed Out: Jacquet (managed), Chiesa (illness), Wirtz, Gravenberch, Isak
Injured: Jaros, Gomez, Leoni, Bradley, Endo, Bajcetic, Ekitike
Not in US: Van Dijk, Gakpo, Alisson, Mac Allister, Munoz
Abe, Calum Scanlon – more known for playing in defence – and Lewis Koumas formed a youthful and unlikely attack.
Liverpool debuted their new away kit, with red shorts that perfectly contrasted Wrexham’s red shirt and white shorts – well organised, unlike the latest fashionably late kickoff in the US!
Iraola’s desire for directness on show
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's Josh Abe sees his shot saved by Wrexham's goalkeeper Danny Ward (L) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Less than three minutes into the match, Abe had the opportunity to get on the scoresheet after Liverpool showed off Iraola’s hallmark of direct vertical attacks.
Szoboszlai initially found Elliott with a probing pass from his defensive third, leaving the No. 19 to feed the 16-year-old on the edge of the box, but his strike could only find ex-Red Danny Ward.
Against a side with more rhythm and minutes this pre-season, Liverpool’s desire to press was immediately apparent, as was the intention to play direct forward passes from back to front.
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's Ifeanyi Ndukwe is challenged by Wrexham's Sam Smith (R) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While the Reds controlled possession, the difference in intent from last season was refreshing, even if it was not perfect (it is pre-season and a young team after all).
There were few clear-cut chances created by either team, which may have seen a few watching from the UK drift off to sleep, but 18-year-old Ndukwe impressed by getting into the right positions at the back, while Szoboszlai and Nyoni paired well in midfield.
Thankfully, no new injuries came from the first 45 on what was clearly a converted baseball ground!
Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Wrexham
Rio Ngumoha scores with switch to the right wing
There were four changes immediately after the break, with Kostas Tsimikas replacing Kerkez, Curtis Jones coming on for Nyoni, Kieran Morrison for Scanlon and Rio Ngumoha for Abe.
The latter proved most notable, with Ngumoha settling on the right wing amid continued suggestions that he could swap to the position as the Reds chase Bradley Barcola’s signature.
He was readily given the ball but was left frustrated after losing possession as he battled to cut inside on his right foot – he persisted, and later got his reward.
There were, thankfully, more sights on goal in the second period, with Szoboszlai unleashing from outside the box and Elliott forcing a straightforward save, but still no meaningful openings.
Just after the hour mark, Wrexham made 10 changes and Iraola swapped out a further three, with Jeremie Frimpong replacing Ramsay, James McConnell on for Elliott and Will Wright on for Koumas – seeing Szoboszlai shift into the No. 10 role.
Mamardashvili was tested from distance in rare forays from Wrexham, but the breakthrough finally came at the other end off the boot of Ngumoha – with the help of a deflection.
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha shoots to score the first goal during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The defenders backed off and Ngumoha pushed them further toward the six-yard box, hitting an effort that took a flick off the defender and looped into the back of the net for 1-0.
A further three changes followed immediately as Mamardashvili, Chambers and Szoboszlai were replaced by Harvey Davies, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Josh Sonni-Lambie respectively.
Iraola’s side continued to push for a second to no avail, but the key takeaway for the Spaniard will be that his style is being imposed. However, he will know he is lacking experienced, senior forwards.
TIA Man of the Match: Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool 1-0 Wrexham: Match Facts
Liverpool First-Half XI: Mamardashvili; Ramsay, Ndukwe, Chambers, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Nyoni; Abe, Elliott, Scanlon; Koumas
Liverpool Second-Half XI: Mamardashvili (Davies 76′); Ramsay (Frimpong 63′), Ndukwe, Chambers (Ndiaye 76′), Tsimikas; Szoboszlai (Sonni-Lambie 76′), Jones; Ngumoha, Elliott (McConnell 63′), Morrison; Koumas (Wright 63′)
Unused subs: Woodman
Wrexham XI: Ward; Vyner, Scarr, Doyle; Longman, M. James, O’Brien, Thomason; Keillor-Dunn, Rathbone (Ashfield 46′); Smith
Wrexham Second-Half XI: Ward (Burton 63′); Vyner, Scarr (Hyam 63′), Doyle (Brunt 63′); Longman (A. James 63′), M. James (Dobson 63′), O’Brien, Thomason (Cacace 63′); Keillor-Dunn (Cadamarteri 63′), Ashfield; Smith
Unused subs: Cleworth, Barnett, A. Moore, Broadhead, K. Moore