Andoni Iraola offers honest Liverpool verdict as 5 young talents picked out for praise

Andoni Iraola saw his Liverpool team beat Wrexham in New York thanks to a second-half goal from Rio Ngumoha, with five other starlets picked out for praise post-match

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola was pleased with his side's 1-0 win over Wrexham in New York, viewing the game as an important step in the right direction as preparations for the new season continue.

Rio Ngumoha scored the only goal of the match in the second half, with several young stars, including Luke Chambers and Trey Nyoni, impressing at Yankee Stadium. Iraola was quick to point to them in the aftermath of the game.

"I think we were overall more solid than the other day (against Sunderland)," Iraola said live on LFCTV. "It was a different kind of game.

"The pitch was quite narrow and even though the other day we scored more goals and it looked nicer, today we were more a team.

"I'm happy today because we played a lot of young players. Luke Chambers played at center-back and covered very well.

"The winger, Josh Abe, and Kieran Morrison at the end... good performances from young players I think is always good.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 29: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium on July 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Both Lewis Koumas and Will Wright did an amazing job today. I think they will help us with the press and also attacking the spaces and linking up with Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai."

While Liverpool has won both matches it has played under Iraola so far, the Spaniard still wants to see much more. It comes up against Leeds United next, at the weekend.

"I think we are still not there," Iraola admitted. "We are sometimes arriving late but slowly, slowly, we are closer and closer.

"Now we are playing with a lot of young players and slowly we add the senior players that didn't play with us so we can arrive at the start of the season in a good place.

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"Trey Nyoni at the end was very good on the ball and very calm in the situations. He is very positive in his work in the press and also the timings of the jumps are very good.

"He is always confident on the ball. We ask him sometimes even if he loses the ball to try to find the number 10 or the number nine. Even balls in behind and look a little bit further and we can see him doing that because he is so good.

"As a midfielder, I always say sometimes you have to ask for the ball with pressure. he doesn't feel this pressure and even with someone quite close, he asks for the ball."