Liverpool's pre-season tour concludes on Sunday against Leeds at Soldier Field, but head coach Andoni Iraola is racing against time to address a mounting defensive crisis. With eight first-team players still on post-World Cup holidays and six more sidelined by injuries, the club's preparations for the new Premier League season are under severe strain. Iraola's urgent calls of "faster, faster" during Friday's open training session in Chicago underscored the pressing need to reinforce the squad before the campaign kicks off in three weeks.
Defensive woes deepen
The injury list is particularly concentrated in central defense. Jérémy Jacquet, Liverpool's £60m signing from Rennes, is recovering from a shoulder problem, while Giovanni Leoni is rehabilitating from an anterior cruciate ligament rupture suffered on his debut last September. Joe Gomez pulled up with a muscle injury just eight minutes into the first friendly of the tour. All three are central defenders, leaving the team exposed in a critical area that also hampered the club under Arne Slot last season.
Teenagers Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe have impressed in their absence, but Liverpool are planning to loan out Ndukwe next season after failing to secure a work permit. The situation has caught the attention of FSG president Mike Gordon, who was among the observers at Friday's session and is expected at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Star duo's fitness key
Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, who cost a combined £241m, are set to feature for the first time in pre-season against Leeds. Iraola confirmed he will deploy Wirtz "in that position behind the striker" rather than on the left, where he struggled at the World Cup. "We need a very good version of Florian," Iraola said. The trio of Wirtz, Isak, and Hugo Ekitiké played only 119 minutes together last season due to injuries, a statistic that contributed to Slot's exit.
Isak, who played all four games for Sweden at the World Cup, must now prove he can sustain his sharpness and fit into Iraola's system. "Liverpool need a very good version of Isak, too," the coach added, emphasizing the need for the striker to deliver consistently.
Transfer market urgency
Iraola is seeking reinforcements, particularly a winger. A move for Bradley Barcola is in progress, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward open to joining, but the European champions value him at £145m. Defensive cover remains a glaring issue, and doubts persist over the futures of Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa, and Harvey Elliott.
"I hate this month of August because of the uncertainty that surrounds players while the season starts," Iraola admitted. "It's difficult to build a proper team with a lot of question marks." With the season opener at St James' Park on 23 August, the club must accelerate its transfer activity to avoid repeating last season's mistakes.
