NASHVILLE, TN - JULY 25: Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott 19 pushes the ball down the field during a friendly match between Liverpool and Sunderland, July 25, 2026, at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire SOCCER: JUL 25 Liverpool v Sunderland AFC EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260725031

Liverpool Predicted XI vs Wrexham: Andoni Iraola Forced Into Youthful Defence

Liverpool head into their next summer outing against Wrexham with a familiar pre-season issue, availability. The win over Sunderland offered some useful signs, but Joe Gomez going off injured inside ten minutes changed the picture quickly.

Right now, the defensive numbers are thin. With Ibrahima Konate gone and Giovanni Leoni still recovering from an ACL rupture, Virgil van Dijk stands as the only fit senior centre-back on the books. Even then, he is still working on fitness on Merseyside and is not yet ready for this one. Jeremy Jacquet, a summer arrival, was short of match sharpness against Sunderland and is again unlikely to be involved.

Young centre-backs set for chance

That leaves Andoni Iraola with little room for improvisation. Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe are expected to start in central defence, a young pairing thrown into a high-profile friendly because there are few alternatives. Ndukwe’s ineligibility for competitive first-team matches makes this a useful exercise, even if the circumstances are far from ideal.

Either side of them, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong should provide the legs and width from full-back. Both are well suited to the open nature of pre-season football, where transitions tend to come quickly and structure can be loose.

Szoboszlai and Elliott in focus

Further forward, Dominik Szoboszlai looks set for more minutes after a strong showing last time out. He should come in for Curtis Jones and line up alongside James McConnell. Harvey Elliott, who registered an assist against Sunderland, is likely to continue in the No 10 role as he tries to establish himself under Iraola.

Rio Ngumoha should keep his place, while Federico Chiesa may get the nod through the middle after scoring from the bench as a striker. That is the sort of detail pre-season is for, testing combinations and seeing what sticks.