Curtis Jones had a regrettable meldown against Sunderland - then captained the side against Leeds
Curtis Jones had a regrettable meldown against Sunderland - then captained the side against Leeds(Image: 2026 Liverpool FC)
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Andoni Iraola was 45 minutes away from a virtually flawless three-game tour of the United States on Sunday afternoon.
But having cruised into a 2-0 lead against Leeds United at Chicago's Soldier Field, a raft of changes led to an onslaught from Daniel Farke's men, who exposed some defensive shortcomings and a lack of personnel from the Reds.
The Yorkshire side ran out 4-2 winners in the end to send Liverpool home on Sunday evening, back across the Atlantic, with two wins from three from their Stateside jaunt.
But a defensively poor second period aside in Illinois, it was a productive couple of weeks for the Reds, who will now return to training on Wednesday ahead of Sunday's visit from Monaco at Anfield.
The ECHO was at all three games in America keeping a close eye on proceedings and here are our winners and losers from the last fortnight.
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WINNERS
TREY NYONI
Sorry Swansea City, your hopes of loaning Nyoni should be up in smoke after this tour.
It's always risky making judgements on the basis of pre-season games alone but Nyoni looks like he has come on leaps and bounds since last year under Arne Slot, when his entire term featured just 21 Premier League minutes.
In truth, that was down to former boss Slot feeling he needed his senior, experienced pros to dig the team out of a hole of their own making, but Nyoni should be considered a first-team player now.
He was excellent in all three games and shone brightest against Leeds United in a first-half cameo that whetted the appetite of the Liverpool fans at Chicago's Soldier Field.
It's understandable why many consider Rio Ngumoha the next breakout star at Anfield but Nyoni, while far more understated, looks just as talented in his own right in the centre of the park. A big season awaits. Let's hope it's at Anfield and not on loan.
Trey Nyoni of Liverpool runs with the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 02, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois
Trey Nyoni has had an impressive pre-season(Image: Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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IFENAYI NDUKWE
At a time when the centre-back department is emptier than Mike Bassett's trophy cabinet, Ifeanyi Ndukwe has at least shown he can have a role to play further down the line.
The giant Austrian only turned 18 in the Spring but looks like a man mountain who could be at home as a Liverpool centre-back in the years to come. The wily Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave him a tough time during the second half of the final friendly in the United States but Ndukwe should feel hugely encouraged by his performances this past fortnight.
It's a shame, given the problems at centre-half, that Ndukwe - a summer signing from Austria Vienna - will have to go on loan but it's obvious what head of global talent Matt Newberry saw in him during the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar back in November of last year.
His distribution from the back needs work but he looks quick, powerful and his aerial prowess for someone of his age is exceptional. He is most definitely one to watch. It's just a shame it won't be at Liverpool just yet, as work-permit issues mean he needs to be loaned.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe has certainly made an impression
Ifeanyi Ndukwe has certainly made an impression(Image: 2026 Bill Barrett/ISI Photos)
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FLORIAN WIRTZ
Florian Wirtz only played one sixth of the pre-season schedule, featuring for just 45 minutes of the game against Leeds, but the playmaker still showed more than enough to suggest this season might be different.
The difficulties endured by the Germany international have been well documented and not all of his own making, but this summer represents a clean slate for everyone and no-one - besides Alexander Isak perhaps - is ready to embrace that more than Wirtz, the £116m attacking midfielder.
Liverpool moved heaven and earth last summer to sign Wirtz ahead of Manchester City and Bayern Munich, with a charm offensive that began as far back as the winter of 2024, when they allowed Bayer Leverkusen to use the facilities of the AXA Training Centre the morning after a Champions League victory over the Bundesliga club.
There was an ulterior motive beyond simply allowing club legend Xabi Alonso and his staff the chance to train at the £50m base. It was also done to give Wirtz a subtle nod as to what his work surroundings might look like if he was to choose Liverpool just a few months later. But after a tough first year, much more is now expected of the 22-year-old and this outing against Leeds, which culminated with a goal, was a big positive for those who believe Wirtz is now ready to finally take full flight.
Florian Wirtz can have a huge season for the Reds(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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LOSERS
CURTIS JONES
A meltdown over the captain's armband in a pre-season friendly, a trio of ineffectual performances and renewed transfer interest from Inter; it's fair to say Curtis Jones has enjoyed more distinguished fortnights as a Liverpool player.
The nadir came when he went viral for all the wrong reasons on the pitch at Yankee Stadium in New York last week. Having apparently felt aggrieved by the decision to hand Kostas Tsimikas the captaincy after Dominik Szoboszlai was withdrawn in the 1-0 win over Wrexham, Jones took real exception.
And after a heated disagreement with Szoboszlai after the game ended with Tsimikas throwing down the armband in frustration at his team-mates's own annoyance, Jones quickly caught traction online.
Those at Liverpool have attempted to claim it was a simple disagreement that spawns from an elite environment and the fact Szoboszlai and Jones were all smiles later that week at open training suggested it was all water under the bridge. But at a time when the club is being questioned over its lack of leadership, Jones' public display of anger was a regrettable episode. It was unnecessary and only increased the wider questions about the lack of policing in the dressing room right now.
Inter's latest offer, worth around £30m, was tabled later in the week and it's unclear what happens next. Jones' unhappy pre-season suggests that a change of scenery may yet be best for all concerned.
JOE GOMEZ
With Virgil van Dijk back on Merseyside and Jeremy Jacquet sidelined, this tour presented Joe Gomez with a real opportunity to show a new coach exactly what he is all about.
As a versatile and long-serving member of the squad - Gomez is now on his fourth manager - the experienced former England defender might have felt he could lay down a marker to return to the role he has always had designs on fullfilling - a Liverpool centre-half.
But just eight minutes into the summer schedule, that dream was in tatters. Captain for the night, he was forced off with a muscle injury which now leaves him absent for the start of the new Premier League season.
If Gomez was out to show Liverpool don't need another centre-back this summer, the latest setback only heightened the need for one. That is some achievement inside eight minutes.
Another injury for Liverpool's No.2
Another injury for Liverpool's No.2
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JEREMY JACQUET
Jeremy Jacquet joined officially joined Liverpool at the start of July with it being privately insisted that he was ready to begin pre-season training.
But three friendlies into the summer period and the new £60m defender is yet to kick a ball for his new club and there are serious concerns over who starts the game alongside Virgil van Dijk when Newcastle United are visitied on August 23.
Jacquet was already up against it having not played since a season-ending shoulder injury in February and given he is only turning 21 this month, expecting immediate results from such a young and inexperienced player feels harsh.
It's unclear at this stage of his injury is related to the shoulder issue of earlier this year or if he has picked up a different injury entirely. But one thing is clear - the pre-season tour of the USA totally passed him by.
Curtis Jones uploaded a picture of the Frenchman asleep on his Instagram account on Saturday and while the image was largely viewed in the spirit it was intended - as two team-mates simply enjoying some pre-season banter - the picture of Jacquet's slumber was oddly fitting for his USA tour.
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