Eighteen-year-old Liverpool striker Will Wright on being part of the senior pre-season tour to the US, learning from Alexander Isak, and scoring against Everton at Goodison Park
Liverpool striker Will Wright in action against Sunderland in pre-season.
Liverpool striker Will Wright in action against Sunderland in pre-season.(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
When Andoni Iraola named his Liverpool squad for the US tour this summer, Will Wright's name was among the group, and it was an opportunity to impress that he was determined to take.
The 18-year-old played 45 minutes against Sunderland in Nashville in the first friendly of the summer, and then 27 against Wrexham in New York. Back in England, he featured off the bench in both games against Como.
"It was great," Wright says. "What a great opportunity to play alongside those players. I loved every minute of it. I am so thankful to the gaffer for including me, starting me, and involving me in all the games.
"The crowds were massive, although playing in a baseball stadium was a bit of a weird one! I really enjoyed it."
Under some experienced professionals, Wright was keen to learn as much as he could from the tour experience. He has trained with them before, of course, but this was a fuller experience of being away with the Liverpool group.
"I have got levels to improve but it shows where I have to get to, working around the likes of Alex (Isak) and Fede (Chiesa) and everyone like that," Wright admits.
"First touch, everything I can work on every day, and by watching them every day. It's important for me to be able to look at them and know that's the level I hopefully can get to if I want to play for Liverpool in the future.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JULY 25: Will Wright #79 of Liverpool gets ready during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at GEODIS Park on July 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Will Wright opened the scoring in Liverpool's 1-1 Premier League 2 derby draw with Everton at Goodison Park (Image: Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
"They are all welcoming, there's not a single bad egg in there. They are all lovely people, there's a good feeling in training and a good motive in training, so I'm really looking forward to training there more often.
"A full debut would be great (this season), obviously. But I'll be aiming to score over 10 goals in Premier League 2 and keep kicking on and doing as well as I can."
Having stepped up to the senior level for much of pre-season, Wright made his first competitive appearance of the new season at Goodison Park last week.
The teenager finished well to open the scoring, placing the ball into the corner from inside the penalty area at the Gwladys Street End.
While Liverpool didn't win the game — it finished 1-1, with center-back Mor Talla Ndiaye ending up in goal after Harvey Davies was sent off — it was another milestone.
"It's definitely one of my favorites! Hopefully it's the first of many this season, and I can keep kicking on and get more," Wright says.
"The end of last season showed what I was about. When I first came in, maybe I wasn't settled or adapted at first, but the injury was maybe an opportunity to get settled and get comfortable.
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"When I came back, I was used to the team and the people around me, and I think that showed in my form."
Having already made the senior bench against Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa, he will be hoping to build on that further under Iraola, too — a manager with a reputation for developing young talent.
"It was a dream come true, really," Wright says of his inclusions in senior matchday squads up to this point.
"Not many 18-year-olds can say they have been on the bench in the Premier League. Arne Slot has gone now, but I am so thankful for him.
"Being involved in matchdays and seeing what it's like, it has made me hungry for more. You get addicted to it. Hopefully I can get more of them in the future."