Every Liverpool player who played on the club's US tour rated as the biggest winner and three losers emerge after the first few weeks under new head coach Andoni Iraola
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
Liverpool has returned to the UK following its US tour, with matches against AS Monaco and Como coming up in the next two weeks. The new Premier League campaign is just around the corner.
But who stood out for the right reasons in Andoni Iraola's first three games in charge, and who needs to step things up before the trip to Newcastle on August 23? Liverpool.com has run the rule over those who featured, with several big names including Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker still to rejoin their teammates.
Giorgi Mamardashvili: 6 - Some decent saves, but limited distribution. You know what you're getting.
Freddie Woodman: n/a - Got a few minutes against Sunderland and then sat on the bench.
Joe Gomez: 4 - Did fine, and then got injured. Will be out for around a month.
Milos Kerkez: 6 - Looked to scamper forward as often as possible, but gave away a goal against Leeds.
Jeremie Frimpong: 6 - Better against Leeds than in the other games, but relatively limited attacking threat.
Calvin Ramsay: 6 - Solid enough but a long way off sustained first-team minutes when the proper stuff starts.
Kostas Tsimikas: 6 - Fine as a back-up, but unlikely to be relied upon every week.
Calum Scanlon: 6 - A defender mainly used as cover on the wing here. Got a couple of decent crosses in.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
Luke Chambers: 7 - Really strong, playing a role that he isn't used to. Just a shame he isn't right-footed or he could have made even more headway on the route to the seniors.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe: 7 - Very strong in the main, and composed on the ball. Tired in the second half against Leeds and couldn't cope with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but will benefit from the experience.
Mor Talla Ndiaye: 6 - Another young center-back to impress. Should head out on loan for the coming campaign.
Dominik Szoboszlai: 7 - Full of energy and should suit what Iraola wants down the ground. Promising signs.
Trey Nyoni: 8 - The biggest pre-season winner by some distance. So silky in possession that he glides across the pitch, and his anticipation was impressive. He's ready for more minutes.
Curtis Jones: 5 - Did fine in his first two appearances, and then struggled against Leeds when he was at the scene of the crime for two of the four goals. The heated exchange with Szoboszlai and Tsimikas wasn't ideal.
Harvey Elliott: 5 - There is a spot in the Liverpool attack to be had, but he didn't really take any of the games by the scruff of the neck in the way that he might have needed to. There were moments, but you wanted a bit more.
Ryan Gravenberch: 6 - Only 45 minutes and in a team that was struggling, so very hard to assess.
James McConnell: 6 - Fine, but nothing more. He probably needs another loan.
Florian Wirtz: 7 - Scored, which is no bad thing, and looked bright. Much more to come.
Federico Chiesa: 5 - Missed one game through illness and didn't make much of an impact in the other two. He isn't a striker and he doesn't have the explosive pace required in the final third.
Content Image
Content Image
Kieran Morrison: 6 - Started great with a goal, but tailed off. Better as a number 10, but the competition for places is much harder there than on the right-hand side currently.
Lewis Koumas: 6 - Showed plenty of enthusiasm when he came off the bench against Wrexham, but struggled against Leeds. Probably needs another Championship loan.
Rio Ngumoha: 7 - Looks stronger and more composed with his decision-making. Notably tracking back a lot more than last season, too.
Alexander Isak: 6 - Sharp enough for a first half of soccer this pre-season. Much more to come.
Josh Abe: 6 - Should have scored against Wrexham but showed a few glimmers of why he was present, despite having not long turned 16.
Will Wright: 6 - Wasn't able to hold the ball up and bring others into play, but clearly a talent.
Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni and Stefan Bajcetic were in the US, but they weren't able to play in any of the games. That could change in the Anfield fixtures that are coming up.
Others, like Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley, are set to be injured for some time yet. That is exactly why Liverpool is in such need of reinforcements in the transfer market.