Liverpool blew a two-goal lead to lose to Leeds in Chicago, leaving new boss Andoni Iraola with plenty to think about on the flight back across the Atlantic. It was the Reds' final game of their pre-season tour.
Early goals from young defender Luke Chambers and Florian Wirtz had Liverpool cruising toward a perfect trip. But after both teams made half-time changes, Leeds turned the game around to win, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring twice and Joe Rodon and Sean Longstaff also finding the net.
Two American football-style throw-ins undid Liverpool as Leeds bombarded the penalty area from set-pieces at the home of NFL side the Chicago Bears.
Liverpool's second-half collapse
When Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni went off, Liverpool had nothing going forward. The half-time introductions of Calvert-Lewin, Harry Wilson and others gave Leeds the spark they had been missing.
Two Hail Mary-style throw-ins proved decisive, built on shrewd runs from Calvert-Lewin and defending described as abysmal from Liverpool. Several senior defenders are injured, with Jeremie Frimpong limping off in the second half to become the fifth absentee in the back four, joining Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni. Captain Virgil van Dijk was not on the trip at all.
Two teenagers push for starts
Rio Ngumoha, still only 17, is now considered so talented that he is barely thought of as a breakthrough prospect anymore. This time last year he had yet to make his Premier League debut. He has since been capped by England in a pre-World Cup friendly and made five league starts last season, and he troubled Leeds wing back James Justin throughout the match.
The breakout star of the tour has been another teenager, 19-year-old Trey Nyoni, who made six substitute appearances in the league last season. Nyoni dictated play from deep against players ten years his senior. With Alexis Mac Allister still away after reaching the World Cup final with Argentina, Ryan Gravenberch only just back and Curtis Jones the subject of transfer interest, Nyoni could be in line for more opportunities.
Farke's tactical dilemma
Daniel Farke was under serious pressure by Christmas last year, with Leeds in the relegation zone after six defeats in seven games. He switched to a back five, and from December 1 onwards Leeds lost just six of their next 25 matches, reaching an FA Cup semi-final.
In Chicago, Leeds looked vulnerable at the back in the first half and created little on the counter. After a quadruple change at the break, but with the same system kept in place, they dominated Liverpool.
Leeds eye a top-half push
Leeds were far better after the interval. With goalkeeper James Trafford expected to become their record signing for around £45 million, and Harry Wilson joining on a free transfer from Fulham, this transfer window could give Leeds a platform for a push toward the top half of the table.
Gaps remain. Gabriel Gudmundsson limped off in the first half, highlighting left back as an area of concern, and the forward line could use strengthening after Leeds missed out on signing Julian Brandt and saw Jack Harrison leave. New £34 million defender Tarik Muharemovic, signed from Sassuolo to replace Pascal Struijk, looked a solid addition.
Wirtz and Isak show promise
Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, who cost a combined £241 million, both struggled with fitness and form last season. In their first pre-season outings following a post-World Cup break, both looked sharp. Wirtz took his goal well and produced several eye-catching passes, while Isak appeared confident. Liverpool's second-half fall-off after both were substituted underlined their importance to the side.
