Liverpool ended their three-game tour of the United States with a 4-2 defeat to Leeds United at Chicago's Soldier Field. A second-half collapse, following a raft of changes, saw Andoni Iraola suffer his first loss in charge to end the two-week trip to the States on a sour note.
Luke Chambers opened the scoring early on, tucking home from a corner after Milos Kerkez had flicked on Dominik Szoboszlai's delivery. The Reds doubled their lead later in the half when Florian Wirtz met Jeremie Frimpong's cushioned pass from Trey Nyoni's cross-field ball.
Leeds pulled one back after the break with substitute Brendan Aaronson firing past Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Daniel Farke's side made it 2-2 when former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin pounced at the back post. Farke's men completed the comeback when Curtis Jones's attempted clearance ended with Sean Longstaff scoring, and Calvert-Lewin grabbed his second late on as Liverpool failed to deal with another long throw into the box.
Player ratings vs Leeds United
Starting XI
- Giorgi Mamardashvili - 6: Decent save late in the first half was about the only thing he had to do other than another stop from Stach. Was alert on both occasions. Was left exposed for all of Leeds goals, however.
- Jeremie Frimpong - 6: Got forward all throughout the first half and his deft cross for Wirtz's goal was well worked. Needs to build on this now as a right full-back but was withdrawn with an injury, which is worrying.
- Ifeanyi Ndukwe - 6: The giant Austrian has been one of the big winners of this tour. Once more won plenty of headers and did his work with no fuss at the back first half. Was given a much tougher examination by substitute Calvert-Lewin however.
- Luke Chambers - 7: An unlikely goalscorer, the defender's excellent tour continued here and given the lack of centre-back options right now, he might be in line to stick around for that Newcastle game later this month.
- Milos Kerkez - 6: Got forward as often as possible and played some nice exchanges with Ngumoha. Influence waned after the break.
- Trey Nyoni - 8: Forced a decent save from Cairns with a strike from outside the box and was always keen to drop deep to begin attacks. Cross-field pass for the second goal was sumptuous. Growing confidence is obvious.
- Dominik Szoboszlai - 7: Good tracking to deny Tanaka in the first half and resisted Leeds' pressing well on occasion. Will be a massive player for Iraola, you suspect. Taken off in the second half.
- Rio Ngumoha - 8: Back on the left side for this one and linked up well with Kerkez at times. Drew gasps with his flashes of skills also. Another twinkle-toed display from the young winger with a massive future.
- Florian Wirtz - 8: Lovely through ball almost got Ngumoha in and he looked like he'd found his stride in the first period. Took his goal well, timing his run into the box expertly. Ran the show at times in his 45-minute cameo.
- Kieran Morrison - 5: Should have released Isak earlier to end a promising counter and was not as involved as much as he would have wanted on that favoured right-hand side.
- Alexander Isak - 5: Silky nutmeg on the edge of the box was a flash of class but still lacking a yard of pace which is understandable this early into his summer.
Substitutes
- Ryan Gravenberch - 5: Played a couple of neat passes through the lines in a deeper midfield role but is building his fitness up once more.
- Curtis Jones - 4: Took the armband off Szoboszlai after his withdrawal but couldn't stamp his authority. At fault for Longstaff's goal. Not been a great pre-season for the midfielder.
- Lewis Koumas - 5: Unable to influence things as the raft of changes switched the momentum of the game.
- Federico Chiesa - 5: Still difficult to see where he fits in this season. Offered little on his return from illness.
- Calvin Ramsay - 6: Didn't get forward much but was always neat and tidy in possession at right-back. Probably needs a move.
- Mor Talla Ndiaye - 5: Teenage defender was unable to stop the rot as Liverpool collapsed in the second half.
- Harvey Elliott - 6: Tried to thread the forward players with passes when possible but impetus was with Leeds all half.
- Kostas Tsimikas - 4: Asleep at the back post for Calvert-Lewin's goals. Has to improve when the real stuff gets going.
- Calum Scanlon - 5: Arrived as a sub for the injured Frimpong on the right side of the attack. Could do little by that point.
