Liverpool are dealing with defensive injury problems as they prepare to face Wrexham in their latest pre-season friendly in New York tonight. The Reds won 4-2 against Sunderland in their first outing of the Andoni Iraola era last weekend, but lost stand-in captain Joe Gomez to injury early on.
Youthful centre-back pairing
With Ibrahima Konate having left the club this summer and Giovanni Leoni still recovering from an ACL tear, Virgil van Dijk is the only fit senior centre-back. However, he has reported for pre-season duty following his World Cup exertions with the Netherlands but is still undergoing fitness work back on Merseyside. Summer signing Jeremy Jacquet was left out against Sunderland as a precaution and is not expected to feature here either.
It will be a youthful centre-back pairing against Wrexham, with Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe expected to get the nod. Ndukwe is not eligible to play in competitive matches for Liverpool's first team as he reportedly does not meet the required points total to get a UK work permit. The more experienced duo of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong should take up the full-back roles.
Midfield and attack
Dominik Szoboszlai should be in line for a more substantial test after impressing against Sunderland, and could replace Curtis Jones in the lineup, starting next to James McConnell. Harvey Elliott bagged an assist at the weekend and should hold on to the No10 position as he looks to play his way into contention under Iraola following a nightmare loan stint at Aston Villa last term.
Teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha will benefit from more first-team minutes and should keep his place at Yankee Stadium. Iraola may be tempted to deploy Federico Chiesa from the start after he scored off the bench last time out, playing as a striker. Liverpool's injury list still includes Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley.
Predicted Liverpool XI vs Wrexham: Mamardashvili; Kerkez, Ndiaye, Ndukwe, Frimpong; Szoboszlai, McConnell; Ngumoha, Elliott, Morrison; Chiesa
Injured: Gomez, Leoni, Ekitike, Bradley, Jacquet
Time and date: 12.30am BST on Thursday July 30, 2026
Venue: Yankee Stadium, New York City
