Liverpool will face Wrexham in a pre-season friendly at Yankee Stadium in New York City on Thursday, July 30, 2026, as the club navigates a severe shortage of available centre-backs. The match, scheduled for a 12:30 am BST kick-off, marks the second outing of the summer for the Reds and the first match under new manager Andoni Iraola since a 4-2 victory over Sunderland in Nashville. Iraola replaced Arne Slot earlier this summer following Slot’s sacking a year after winning the title, despite the club securing Champions League qualification with a fourth-place finish last term.
Defensive Crisis and Personnel Shortages
Liverpool is currently dealing with a threadbare squad
in the defensive line. The crisis was exacerbated when stand-in captain Joe Gomez was forced off early during the match against Sunderland. According to reports, Virgil van Dijk remains the only fit senior centre-back at the club, though he is still undergoing individual fitness work on Merseyside after his World Cup campaign with the Netherlands. Ibrahima Konate has left the club this summer, and Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from an ACL tear.
Summer signing Jeremy Jacquet is also expected to miss the match, having been left out of the previous fixture as a precaution. Consequently, manager Andoni Iraola is expected to rely on a youthful pairing of Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe. Ndukwe is reportedly ineligible for competitive first-team matches because he does not meet the required points total for a UK work permit. At full-back, the more experienced duo of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez are expected to start.
Squad Availability and Returns
While the defense is depleted, Liverpool’s attacking options are improving as players return from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Ryan Gravenberch have all returned to training. However, several key stars remain on post-season break, including Alisson Becker, Cody Gakpo, and Alexis Mac Allister. Other long-term absentees due to injury include Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike.
In the midfield and attack, Dominik Szoboszlai and Federico Chiesa are expected to be influential after both scored against Sunderland. Young talents such as Rio Ngumoha, Kieran Morrison, and Lewis Koumas are also seeking to prove their worth to Iraola after contributing goals or appearances in the opening friendly.
Wrexham’s Form and Outlook
Wrexham arrives in the Bronx as an EFL Championship club aiming for the Premier League after narrowly missing the Championship playoffs last season. The Welsh side, owned by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, enters the match with significant momentum, having already defeated top-flight opposition this summer with wins over Manchester United and Leeds. Wrexham defeated Leeds 3-2 in Tampa in their most recent outing following a goalless draw with Wisla Krakow.
Wrexham’s squad is largely fit, although Ryan Hardie and Elliot Lee missed the match against Leeds due to injuries sustained during the victory over Manchester United. Liberato Cacace has returned to the squad following his World Cup duties with New Zealand.
Match Details and Viewing Information
The encounter at Yankee Stadium will be broadcast live via Liverpool’s streaming service, Newsbreak, which requires an annual membership of £42.99. The game will also be available on LFCTV and wrexhamafc.co.uk.
Match Summary:
- Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
- Kick-off: 12:30 am BST
- Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City
- Liverpool’s Previous Result: 4-2 win vs Sunderland
- Wrexham’s Recent Results: Wins over Manchester United and Leeds; draw vs Wisla Krakow