Liverpool line-ups for Sunderland as Andoni Iraola reign starts with young stars
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Liverpool take on Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday evening, and our Reds writers have picked the team they'd like to see Chief Liverpool FC Correspondent, Theo Squires Liverpool FC Writer and Mark Jones Liverpool Content Editor - Sport14:37, 25 Jul 2026This is where the Andoni Iraola era really begins.Having arrived at Liverpool during a whirlwind few days following the sacking of Arne Slot, the Basque boss has been getting to know his new charges during the Reds' pre-season tour of the USA.Double training sessions have been the order of the day as the former Bournemouth head coach has put his new charges through their paces, but now we'll get to see just what they look like on the pitch.With Liverpool's World Cup stars still absent, here's the XI that our Reds writers would like to see Iraola pick in Nashville.Ian DoyleHere we go again. But it might be worthwhile Iraola going reasonably strong with his starting line-up.That means Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal, Milos Kerez at left-back, Jeremie Frimpong at right-back and Joe Gomez alongside Jeremy Jacquet at centre-back.In midfield, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai can be at the base with Trey Nyoni in the number 10 role.And up top, Federico Chiesa can start down the middle with Rio Ngumoha on the left and Harvey Elliott on the right.My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Jacquet, Gomez, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Jones; Elliott, Nyoni, Ngumoha; Chiesa.Theo SquiresThe Andoni Iraola Liverpool reign is about to get underway!
And with a number of senior stars still on their holidays after World Cup duty, his first starting XI can have a mix and match look to it against Sunderland.Fresh off signing a new contract with the Reds, Freddie Woodman can start in goal. Two debutants get the nod at centre-back with Ifeanyi Ndukwe partnering Jeremy Jacquet, while they can be flanked by Jeremie Frimpong and Kostas Tsimikas.Curtis Jones captains the side, with Trey Nyoni stationed alongside him in defensive midfield.Harvey Elliott can start at number 10, with Rio Ngumoha starting on the left.
Meanwhile, Will Wright can lead the line.Giorgi Mamardashvili, Joe Gomez, Milos Kerkez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Federico Chiesa all start on the bench, but they can at least act as senior heads after the interval following, you’d expect, wholesale changes.My team (4-2-3-1): Woodman; Frimpong, Jacquet, Ndukwe, Tsimikas; Jones, Nyoni; Abe, Elliott, Ngumoha; Wright.Mark JonesIt is the first step on a long journey for Andoni Iraola, but you are better off starting with those who are going to accompany you along the way.That is basically a long-winded way of saying I don't really see the need to pick Federico Chiesa from the start of this friendly against Sunderland. It just isn't going to happen for the Italian at Anfield, and hopefully he can find a good move to resurrect his career sometime soon.With options limited in the central attacking role, that should give an opportunity to the exciting Will Wright to start against the Black Cats, and I'd begin with a fairly senior side around him.Giorgi Mamardashvili is the No.1 goalkeeper on tour and needs to regain some confidence, while I'd go with Jeremie Frimpong, Jeremy Jacquet, Joe Gomez and Milos Kerkez across the back, with Gomez taking the armband.Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai can then form a quality midfield pair, with Harvey Elliott, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha an exciting trio behind Wright up top.My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Jacquet, Gomez, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Jones; Elliott, Nyoni, Ngumoha; Wright.