Liverpool will bring their pre-season tour of the United States to a close on Wednesday evening when they take on Leeds United in a friendly at Soldier Field in Chicago, with both sides looking to build momentum ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Andoni Iraola's Liverpool arrive in good form having won both of their previous outings on American soil, beating Sunderland in Nashville before overcoming Wrexham in New York City. The new head coach has used the tour to rotate his squad extensively, though he has been boosted by the arrival of several key players who joined late following their World Cup commitments. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have all linked up with the group in Illinois and are in contention to feature against Leeds.
However, Iraola's defensive options remain stretched. Summer arrival Jeremy Jacquet is a doubt for the match, adding to concerns at centre-back after Joe Gomez was ruled out for up to a month with a muscle problem picked up during the win over Sunderland. Giorgi Mamardashvili and Harvey Elliott are the only two players to have started both of Liverpool's previous games in the US, reflecting the extent of the rotation policy so far. A possible lineup could see Jeremie Frimpong return at right-back in place of Calvin Ramsay, with Jacquet potentially partnering one of academy prospects Luke Chambers, Ifeanyi Ndukwe or Talla Ndiaye in central defence if he is passed fit.
Leeds head into the match on the back of a bounce-back win over Sunderland, having previously lost to Wrexham during their own preparations. The Yorkshire club will be able to call upon Harry Wilson, who could feature against his former employers after moving to Elland Road earlier this summer. Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach are also expected to return to the midfield, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin, having overcome a minor fitness setback, may have to be content with a place among the substitutes.
The two clubs have met on two occasions in the Premier League this season, with both fixtures ending in draws. Liverpool and Leeds shared a 3-3 thriller at Elland Road before playing out a goalless stalemate at Anfield to open 2026. In the overall head-to-head record, Liverpool hold a clear advantage with 63 wins to Leeds' 29, alongside 33 draws between the two sides.
Soldier Field, which can hold up to 62,500 spectators, is serving as the venue for this clash despite not being chosen as a host site for the 2026 World Cup. The stadium is the regular home of MLS outfit Chicago Fire. Bookmakers have installed Liverpool as favourites at 6/10, with Leeds priced at 4/1 and the draw available at 18/5.
Off the pitch, Liverpool's transfer business continues to generate headlines. Inter Milan are reportedly preparing a fresh bid for midfielder Curtis Jones, having already seen two offers rejected this summer — a €25million proposal in June followed by a €32million bid. The Italian club are said to be readying an offer worth around €35million, though this remains below Liverpool's valuation, which is understood to be influenced by the fee Tottenham paid for Conor Gallagher in January. Liverpool are believed to be holding out for a fee closer to €40million. Elsewhere, the Reds have reportedly received encouraging news in their pursuit of Matias Fernandez-Pardo as they search for a new winger following Mohamed Salah's departure on a free transfer at the end of his contract.
With both squads eager to fine-tune their preparations before the season gets underway, the friendly in Chicago offers Iraola and his Leeds counterpart a final opportunity to assess form and fitness on foreign soil.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (standard-football).