Liverpool looked very promising in the first half against Leeds in Chicago, but quickly collapsed in the second when Andoni Iraola made changes against the Premier League outfit
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
If ever there was a game of two halves, this was it. Liverpool was cruising in the first 45 minutes, with Trey Nyoni running the show in the center, but then fell apart after the break.
Leeds introduced more quality — the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Harry Wilson — and that changed the tide, but it is also true that Liverpool's second string struggled.
Alexander Isak was lively in the first period, even if he didn't have many chances to shoot at goal. In contrast, Federico Chiesa, playing number nine, barely had a kick, and when he did gain possession, he couldn't make anything of it.
Lewis Koumas was a bright spark when he played against Wrexham, but there was a clear drop-off to Rio Ngumoha here, and Kieran Morrison lacks the kind of speed required to play off the right regularly when the proper stuff kicks off.
There are players still to return to the group, of course, with Victor Munoz and Alisson Becker returning from their summer break this week, meeting up with Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk, and those who have been in the US.
After that, though, there is only Alexis Mac Allister to be reintroduced into the mix. Those five names are not going to be enough to sort out the lack of depth in key areas.
Luke Chambers opened the scoring for Liverpool against Leeds in Chicago.
Luke Chambers opened the scoring for Liverpool against Leeds in Chicago.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Ifeanyi Ndukwe was strong in the first half but tired in the second, and is missing the requirements for a work permit anyway, while Luke Chambers has impressed in pre-season.
Signing a new defender still remains imperative, though, with Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley yet to come back.
Joe Gomez being out for a month is no surprise, and in all likelihood, history would suggest that, unfortunately, more setbacks will follow.
Nyoni was so impressive during the three games in the US that the midfield options may now be sorted out. But at least one more forward must come in — with Bradley Barcola the obvious top target — and someone to cover center-back and right-back is also a must.
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"I think we can learn a lot of things," Andoni Iraola told LFCTV post-match. Chiefly, the key takeaway must be the need for more depth.
Clearly, Liverpool knows that its summer work is not complete. Negotiations with PSG will not be easy, but Barcola has indicated that he would be open to the switch.
After that, however, even more is needed if Iraola is to be given a fair chance to attack every competition.
The first half against Leeds proved that the first XI is brimming with talent and promise. The second showed exactly why better back-up options are nothing short of non-negotiable.