Liverpool will continue their pre-season preparations on Sunday when they take on Leeds United in a friendly at Soldier Field, Chicago, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm BST.
The match represents an important stage in Andoni Iraola's first season at the helm of Liverpool, as the club looks to regroup following a disappointing defence of the Premier League title under previous manager Arne Slot. The Reds have played two pre-season fixtures so far and won both, although Iraola has rotated his squad heavily as he assesses his options ahead of the new campaign.
Leeds, meanwhile, arrive in the United States having played two matches of their own during the summer schedule. Daniel Farke's side suffered a 3-2 defeat to Wrexham before responding with a 1-0 win over Sunderland, a result settled by a goal from Felix Nmecha. Farke guided Leeds to safety in the Premier League last season after they endured a tough start following their promotion, eventually finishing 14th. The club will be eager to use this pre-season to build momentum for what they hope will be a more comfortable campaign.
On the team news front, Liverpool will be missing defender Joe Gomez, who Iraola has confirmed will be sidelined for around a month with a muscle injury. Gomez joins fellow centre-back Giovanni Leoni on the treatment table. There could, however, be a first appearance for summer arrival Jeremy Jacquet, who has recovered from a shoulder problem sustained earlier in the year and may be handed his debut in Chicago.
Iraola will also have Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak available for selection. Attention will also be on 17-year-old academy talent Ngumoha, who has caught the eye during pre-season and was recently included in Thomas Tuchel's preparatory camp ahead of the World Cup. He is expected to receive further minutes against Leeds as he continues to build his case for regular involvement.
For Leeds, new signing Harry Wilson has featured in both of the club's pre-season outings to date and is likely to continue that trend against Liverpool. Alongside Nmecha, Wilson represents a genuine attacking threat for Farke's side, even though they are expected to go into the match as underdogs against a stronger Liverpool squad.
Historically, Liverpool hold a commanding advantage in the fixture, having won 53 of the previous meetings between the two clubs compared to Leeds' 23 victories, with 25 matches ending in draws. That record, combined with Liverpool's strong squad depth, makes them favourites heading into Sunday's contest, with many expecting a narrow win for the Merseyside club.
UK viewers will be able to watch the match live via All Red Video, Liverpool's in-house streaming platform, which requires a paid membership priced at £42.99 annually and will broadcast all of the club's pre-season fixtures this summer.
As both sides continue to fine-tune their squads before the competitive season begins, this friendly in Chicago offers a further opportunity for Iraola and Farke to assess player fitness, form and tactical cohesion ahead of a demanding Premier League campaign for both clubs.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.