Andoni Iraola just got a huge triple boost for his Liverpool squad ahead of their second pre-season fixture in the United States, but it doesn’t solve the biggest question mark looming over the team. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Ryan Gravenberch have officially linked up with the team, ending their post-World Cup break and joining the Reds’ training base in Chicago. This is big news, especially after their first friendly on the tour, a 4-2 win over Sunderland on Saturday, left head coach Iraola with *zero* senior centre-backs due to an early injury to Joe Gomez.
The £100M Question: Can Wirtz and Isak Prove the Haters Wrong?
The trio’s return to the squad for the upcoming match against Wrexham in New York on Wednesday night (Thursday morning BST) is a critical step towards getting the team ready for the season. We saw images of the Sweden, Germany, and Netherlands internationals being put through their paces in Chicago, shared by the official LFC website on Sunday. These guys have been enjoying some well-deserved time off after their World Cup duties, but now it’s time to get to work. What makes this particularly juicy for Wirtz and Isak is the chatter from last season. Both players landed in Liverpool for over £100m last summer, and frankly, neither of them quite hit the heights everyone expected. This is their chance to silence those critics right from the jump, showing they’re ready to be central to Iraola’s plans.
Wrexham Clash: A Warm-Up or a Statement?
The Wrexham game isn’t just another friendly, especially for these three. With the fluid nature of pre-season substitutions, it’s highly likely Gravenberch, Wirtz, and Isak will all get a significant portion of the match, maybe even 45 minutes each. Iraola clearly wants to get a look at as many players as possible, but for these three, it’s about acclimatizing to his training methods and in-game tactics. They know they’ll be fixed presences in his strongest starting XI, but this week is all about shaking off the rust and getting synced up. While having them back is a massive welcome for the squad, it definitely doesn’t solve that glaring centre-back issue that popped up with the Gomez injury. Hopefully, Alisson Becker, who’s next in line to join up with the squad, can bring some good vibes and more stability soon. It’s Wrexham up next, and every minute counts for these guys looking to make a statement.
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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