Gomez injury mars start of Iraola era at Liverpool

By Emeka Nwosu — 26 July 2026 — 3 min read

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola described Joe Gomez‘s injury during the friendly match against Sunderland as the “worst news” at the beginning of his tenure. Iraola, who joined Liverpool from Bournemouth in the close season, was managing his first match since replacing Arne Slot.

The match, which was the opener of Liverpool’s United States tour in Nashville, saw goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa, and Lewis Koumas, securing a 4-2 victory for Liverpool. However, Gomez, who started as centre-back and captained the team, was forced off the field in the eighth minute.

Defensive concerns for Iraola

Gomez’s early exit has exacerbated Iraola’s defensive challenges. New signing Jeremy Jacquet is being carefully integrated back into the squad following his own fitness issues, and Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from a long-term absence. Iraola had previously noted that his squad was “very thin” defensively.

Iraola expressed his disappointment regarding Gomez’s injury, stating, “Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe.” He added that the team had been progressing through training without losing any players until Gomez’s injury. Regarding Jacquet, Iraola mentioned the plan to take it easy with him due to a shoulder injury that has kept him out for several months. Jacquet is expected to play in the final game of the US tour to gain minutes.

Despite the injury setbacks, Iraola is hopeful that the victory will provide a foundation for improvement as Liverpool prepares to face Wrexham in New York and Leeds in Chicago. He acknowledged that there are “a lot of things to correct” and that the players showed signs of heavy legs from training, leading to a lack of freshness. Nevertheless, he believes the match offers a good starting point for the team to enhance their performance.

World Cup aftermath and squad reintegration

In other squad news, Virgil van Dijk has been granted additional time off following the Netherlands‘ World Cup campaign. However, Iraola confirmed that Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Ryan Gravenberch are now in Chicago after their post-World Cup breaks and are set to rejoin the squad soon.

Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent a congratulatory message to Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia regarding Argentina‘s performance in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The letter, which was made public by media outlets in Argentina, praised the nation’s contribution to the tournament’s atmosphere and success. Infantino specifically highlighted the “magnificent performance of the Albiceleste” and their role in making the edition an exceptional event that captivated millions of football enthusiasts globally.

The letter also commended the team’s conduct and work ethic, despite ongoing disciplinary proceedings and accusations of gamesmanship during their campaign. Argentina secured the silver medal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a final against Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Infantino’s correspondence, verified by the Daily Mail, expressed gratitude for the team’s constant work, professionalism, attention to detail, passion, commitment, and love for the sport. He concluded his message by expressing optimism for Argentina’s future success and his strong personal relationship with Tapia.

Source: vanguardngr.com