Liverpool’s Iraola Era: Stars Return for Chicago Clash
Liverpool’s pre-season takes a sharper edge on Sunday night in Chicago, where Andoni Iraola chases a third straight win and a first real look at something close to his strongest side.
The new manager has eased into the job with victories over Sunderland and Wrexham, heavy on rotation and academy opportunity. This one feels different. Leeds await, the stadium will be full, and some of Liverpool’s headline names are finally ready to report for duty.
Stars Return, Shape Emerges
Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have all joined up with the squad after their World Cup exertions and are in contention to feature. Their arrival changes the mood around this tour. This is no longer just about minutes in the legs; it’s about Iraola starting to sketch the outline of his Liverpool.
There is another long-awaited presence too. Jeremy Jacquet, the £60m defender whose transfer was announced a year ago but only officially completed in June, could make his first appearance since injury. Liverpool have had to be patient with him. Chicago might finally see why they waited.
Not everyone is back. Spain international Victor Munoz remains on an extended break after La Roja’s World Cup triumph earlier this month. Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister are also still away, recovering from their own summer exertions and celebrations.
Injuries have their say as well. Joe Gomez, forced off in the Sunderland friendly last weekend, is unavailable and now faces a race against time to make the start of the Premier League season. For Iraola, it is an early reminder of the fine line between preparation and risk.
Rotations, Clues and a New Back Four
Across the first two friendlies, Iraola has treated his team sheet like a laboratory. Only Giorgi Mamardashvili and Harvey Elliot have started both games, underlining just how many combinations the Spaniard is willing to test.
That should begin to narrow in Chicago.
Jeremie Frimpong is expected to reclaim the right-back spot from Calvin Ramsay, bringing his aggressive, front-foot style back into the side. On the opposite flank, Milos Kerkez – who thrived under Iraola at Bournemouth – is set to start again at left-back ahead of Kostas Tsimikas. That pairing alone offers a glimpse of the full-back intensity Iraola wants.
At centre-back, the picture is more fluid. Jacquet could be thrown in from the start, with one of academy graduates Luke Chambers, Ifeanyi Ndukwe or Talla Ndiaye alongside him. It is a bold blend: a £60m signing coming off injury and a youngster fighting to prove he belongs. Pre-season is exactly where those gambles live.
Midfield Choices and a Crowded Final Third
The midfield puzzle is just as intriguing. Dominik Szoboszlai, one of Liverpool’s standout performers last season, is in line to start and could be paired with Gravenberch if Iraola wants to accelerate the integration of his returning stars. If the manager opts for a gentler route, youngsters Trey Nyoni or James McConnell are ready to step in from the first whistle.
Higher up the pitch, the competition stiffens. Harvey Elliot, ever-present from the start so far, may give way to Florian Wirtz, with Iraola confirming the German playmaker is available. It would be a significant first look at how Wirtz fits into this evolving system.
Rio Ngumoha, who came off the bench to score the winner against Wrexham, has earned more than just a pat on the back. He is expected to start, rewarded for his impact and composure. These are the nights when academy players can shift the internal conversation about their role for the coming season.
And then there is Isak. The forward endured a difficult debut campaign, never quite finding rhythm or form. Chicago offers him a clean slate. With service from Wirtz, Szoboszlai or Elliot behind him, this could be the first step toward rewriting his Liverpool story.
A Pre-Season Friendly With Real Stakes
On paper, it is just another stop on a summer tour. In reality, Chicago gives Iraola his first chance to knit returning internationals, expensive signings and hungry youngsters into something coherent.
Two wins have brought calm and curiosity. Add a third, with the big names back in the fold, and the questions change. Not “What might this Liverpool look like?” but “How quickly can they be ready to challenge when the real season starts?”
