Andoni Iraola Assesses Liverpool Squad After Wrexham Win

Liverpool beat Wrexham 1-0 in New York and, in pre-season, that tells you two things. First, the result matters less than the details. Second, the details were revealing.

Rio Ngumoha got the goal, his second-half finish settling the game, and the 17-year-old again looked like a player worth tracking closely. He was used on the right flank, which naturally feeds into a bigger squad conversation. Liverpool have lost Mohamed Salah’s output and there is still a need for more punch in the forward line. If Ngumoha is being tested in different attacking roles, it is fair to ask whether a new left-sided forward remains part of the club’s thinking, with Bradley Barcola one of the names in the frame at a reported £140 million valuation.

So far, the summer business has been limited. Víctor Muñoz arrived from Osasuna after Liverpool activated his £34.5 million release clause, while Jérémy Jacquet’s £60 million move from Rennes was completed after being agreed earlier in the year. Useful additions, yes. Enough, no. Not if this squad is meant to reset quickly under Andoni Iraola.

Rio Ngumoha Impresses in Liverpool Attack

Iraola was clear that the younger players have given him plenty to think about. He said: “Yes a lot of players have surprised me, especially the young players I did not know before. The senior players, you have played against them and know them.

“The young players have given a very, very high level in these friendlies. They have to grow, which is very good. We will recover players, it would not be good if we played against Newcastle the same 11 we did yesterday.

“Important players we will get back, they have been at the World Cup. We have done a great job with these players the first two weeks then we have to integrate the new ones slowly. These players know where we are going and can help us.”

That is a sensible read of where Liverpool are. Pre-season has value, but context matters. Missing senior internationals changes everything.

Bradley Barcola Links Reflect Need for More Depth

Iraola also did not dodge the obvious problem area. Liverpool are thin at centre-back and he said so directly. “No, right now, you’ve seen [in] these games we are pretty thin in the centre-back position.

“We still don’t have Virgil [van Dijk]. The only real centre-backs we have right now are Mor [Talla Ndiaye] and Ife [Ndukwe] that are 18 years old, just arrived to the club and they are doing incredibly well.

“Yesterday [against Wrexham] Luke Chambers played there, he is not a centre-back, but he played really, really well. We will have to [do that] until we recover some bodies.

“I think Jeremy [Jacquet] is ready to go. We will recover Virgil, but I’m happy that playing against Sunderland and against Wrexham, good teams, with 18-year-old centre backs, the team has showed composure, solidity at the back and speaks very well about them.”

That is blunt and accurate. Liverpool have promising kids, a few returning bodies and clear holes. A 1-0 win over Wrexham does not change that. It simply confirms what Iraola already knows. This squad still needs help, at centre-back, and probably in attack too.