Iraola names five young standouts after Wrexham
Andoni Iraola did not hold back. After Liverpool's 1–0 win over Wrexham at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, the new manager singled out five young players for praise (7). It is the clearest signal yet that he is looking hard at the academy pipeline as the season approaches.
Ngumoha grabs the winner, and a new role
Rio Ngumoha scored the only goal, a deflected strike in the 75th minute, playing on the right wing (2)(9). That is a deliberate shift. Ngumoha has mostly featured on the left, but Iraola values forwards who can switch flanks, and the teenager delivered a statement in an unfamiliar role (6).
Szoboszlai wears the armband
Dominik Szoboszlai captained the side against Wrexham and is now seen as the most likely candidate to become Liverpool's new vice captain (1)(10). No formal announcement yet, but the armband on a pre-season night in New York says plenty.
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Barcola talks are reportedly open
Liverpool have opened talks with PSG over winger Bradley Barcola as the search for a long-term Mohamed Salah successor intensifies (5)(8). The 23-year-old fits the profile Iraola wants, a wide forward who can operate on either side. Nothing is close yet.
Kerkez: I was asleep when Slot got sacked
Milos Kerkez, the left-back Liverpool chased under the previous regime, told The Telegraph he had no idea Arne Slot was being sacked. He was asleep when the news broke and his brother woke him up to tell him (3).
Fan reactions
Supporters were in good spirits after the Wrexham win. The match thread was full of the usual pre-season gallows humour, and the standout tactical praise went to Ndukwe, who one fan called "super composed and a colossus for his age." Curtis Jones drew attention too, with several fans noting he looked heated at full-time and carried it through the post-match lap. Read the full FT thread.
