What we learned from Andoni Iraola’s first game in charge of Liverpool | OneFootball

Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool reign began with a 4-2 win over Sunderland in Nashville, though Joe Gomez’s early injury took the shine off it. A youthful side finished strongly at Geodis Park in front of 24,897.

Gomez limped off inside eight minutes and Ifeanyi Ndukwe came on to partner fellow teenager Mor Talla Ndiaye.

Kieran Morrison, 19, put Liverpool ahead on 13 minutes, then Enzo Le Fee levelled before half-time. Timur Tutierov made it 2-1 early in the second half, before Dominik Szoboszlai equalised and Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas settled it.

Iraola set up in a 4-2-3-1, Harvey Elliott as the advanced midfielder before Szoboszlai took that role after the break. Liverpool played with greater tempo, more direct passing and aggressive pressing. “We had some good spells on the ball,” he said. “But I think we lacked a little bit of intensity. You can feel the timing is still not there. We have to work a lot more but it’s a starting point. We still have a lot of things to improve.” He told LFCTV.

Iraola called Gomez’s setback “the worst news” and said Jeremy Jacquet, returning from a shoulder injury, will “probably play the last game of this U.S. tour”.

Szoboszlai took the armband after the break and his pressing created the late opening for Koumas.

The squad flew back to their Chicago base after the game.

Source: NY Times