Liverpool win over Sunderland soured by Joe Gomez injury as Andoni Iraola bemoans 'worst news'
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola faced a tough start to his United States tour after defender Joe Gomez suffered an injury during Saturday's 4-2 preseason victory over Sunderland. Gomez left the pitch just eight minutes into the match, a development that complicates the team's defensive situation as they prepare for further exhibition games.
Despite the setback, Liverpool secured the win behind goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa, and Lewis Koumas. The result provided Iraola with an early look at his squad's condition, though he acknowledged the team is currently lacking match fitness. With new signing Jeremy Jacquet being managed carefully due to a previous shoulder injury, defensive depth remains a primary concern for the manager.
Iraola noted that the team is thin in central defense following the departure of Ibrahima Konaté and the ongoing recovery of Giovanni Leoni from a long-term knee injury. The coach plans to bring new arrival Jeremy Jacquet into the rotation for the final game of the tour, hoping to ease him back into competitive play after a lengthy absence.
Looking ahead, the squad expects the return of key players including Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Ryan Gravenberch, who are currently catching up after their international obligations. Captain Virgil van Dijk remains at the club's training center in Kirkby to follow a separate fitness program rather than joining the current trip to the United States. While the victory over Sunderland offers a baseline for performance, Iraola emphasized that the team has significant work to do before the start of the competitive season.