Liverpool has confirmed its starting XI to take on Leeds in Chicago with Andoni Iraola selecting Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz from the off at Soldier Field
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has named his Liverpool starting XI for the final pre-season game in the US, with the Reds having beaten both Sunderland and Wrexham so far.
Giorgi Mamardashvili starts in goal against Leeds at Soldier Field in Chicago, with Jeremie Frimpong, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Luke Chambers and Milos Kerkez completing the back four. Dominik Szoboszlai and Trey Nyoni are in midfield.
In front of them, Florian Wirtz is the number 10, with Kieran Morrison, Rio Ngumoha and Alexander Isak filling in the rest of the roles. Federico Chiesa is back from illness and among the substitutes, along with the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, but Jeremy Jacquet is not yet available.
Following this game, Liverpool will fly back to Merseyside. There, it will face matches with AS Monaco and Como in the next two weeks, while continuing to work at the AXA Training Centre.
New signing Victor Munoz and goalkeeper Alisson Becker will return in the coming days after taking a break after the World Cup. Alexis Mac Allister will have another week before he comes back.
Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo are yet to play for Liverpool this summer, but have been training this week. They could be involved for the first time in a friendly next Sunday.
Andoni Iraola and some of his coaches during a Liverpool training session in Chicago.
Andoni Iraola and some of his coaches during a Liverpool training session in Chicago.(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"I think it has been really, really useful," Iraola said of the tour in general ahead of the final match.
"Obviously, you spend a lot of time with the players, with the staff, you get all the information you can. And I think there is also an evolution, it has to be.
"We start to understand each other better, what we need to do.
"Every game, I hope we can get closer and closer and put ourselves in a position where the few players that still are not here start to train also, they are helped by the others.
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"Probably the performance of the young players (is what I'm most happy with).
"At the end, we’ve had most of the players coming from the U21s, from the Academy, and they’ve performed really well against Premier League opposition, very good players — winning duels, helping us also in the collective idea.
"I think it probably has been the best, I wouldn’t say surprise, but at least the confirmation."
Liverpool starting XI: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Ndukwe, Chambers, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Nyoni; Morrison, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Isak.