Liverpool absolutely jumped into their new Premier League season prep today, bagging a 4-2 win against Sunderland in Nashville. And if your head is spinning because the World Cup just ended like five minutes ago, you’re not alone, I almost forgot we even had a match! But honestly, the score is almost secondary. This was our first real look at what Andoni Iraola is cooking up, after the big switch from Arne Slot, and trust me, there’s a TON to unpack.
The Kids Are Alright
First off, let’s talk about the Young Reds, because man, they showed up. With a bunch of first-team guys still on World Cup holiday, this was a massive chance, and these academy players stepped RIGHT up. Kieran Morrison, especially, was bright coming off that right wing. Dude looked more than capable on the ball, even with a bunch of other academy players around him. Trey Nyoni and James McConnell, who are basically already first-teamers, looked fantastic too. And shoutout to Josh Abe. Koumas grabbed a goal, but Abe, that young winger, had serious pace, inventiveness, and strength on the ball. I heard the academy folks were hyped on him, and now I totally get it. I’m buzzing to see more from him, for real.
Szobo’s Shot and the New Vibe
Then there’s the equalizer. Dude, Dominik Szoboszlai just rocketed a half-volley after controlling it with his chest, and it was pure brilliance. That goal alone was worth the price of admission, especially coming after what looked like a wasted chance. But more than just a screamer, it showed us how Iraola’s Liverpool is gonna play. It wasn’t always pretty, sure, but you could actually see how they planned to pull Sunderland’s defense apart and find space. Last year, we’d just hold the ball at the 30-yard line, looking lost on how to create patterns. This? This felt like a breath of fresh air, like the instruction and execution are finally matching up. It’s not about domination, but it’s about clarity, and that’s huge.
Now, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Sunderland’s press definitely got the backline in trouble a few times, mostly in the first half. It was a bit nervy, watching them try to play out of the back. But hey, it’s early, and you gotta figure Iraola noticed it too. These are the kinks you iron out. So yeah, some things to clean up, but overall, this was seriously exciting. Iraola’s vision is already coming through, and we’re just getting started. This early look has me hyped for what the season holds, you know?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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