Three positives for Liverpool fans to focus on despite embarrassing defeat against Leeds

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Positivity about Liverpool and their form in the early days of Andoni Iraola’s reign took an almighty hit on Sunday, as the Reds collapsed to lose 4-2 against Leeds United.The Reds had looked good in the first-half, racing into a two-goal lead, but some old habits reared their head after the break, as Iraola‘s team came undone from long throw-ins.Four second-half goals conceded does not look good for Liverpool, no matter the circumstances. What has been your main takeaway from Liverpool’s pre-season under Andoni Iraola?

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images Trey Nyoni looks like he’s absolutely readyEasily the best thing to come out of the Leeds game was the fact that Trey Nyoni once again took the game by the scruff of the neck.The 19-year-old has arguably been Liverpool’s best player during pre-season so far, and he stepped that up on Sunday to deliver another impressive outing.It may have only been 45 minutes long, but Nyoni oozed class from start to finish, pinging a lovely crossfield pass in the build-up to Florian Wirtz’s goal as a standout moment.What made the youngster’s performance even better was how sluggish Ryan Gravenberch and especially Curtis Jones looked during the second-half. After three excellent displays, he now looks ready to step into a bigger role.Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Liverpool’s player ratings vs Leeds as Reds end US tour in concerning fashionAlexander Isak and Florian Wirtz return in encouraging fashionWhile Sunday’s defeat is likely to be blown out of proportion by the fanbase, it should be remembered just how weak the Liverpool team was during the second-half on Sunday.The first 45 minutes was a much better reflection of the level of this team, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz joining Nyoni in playing impressively.Isak and Wirtz were the highlights, with Liverpool fans yet to see enough of the duo linking up together in red.Both played well in Chicago.

There is much more to come from both, but Sunday’s performances should encourage every Liverpool supporter.First-half shows what Liverpool can beAfter picking up two wins in their first two matches under Iraola, the first-half against Leeds was easily the best Liverpool have played so far with the Spaniard at the helm.All of that good work may have been undone in the second period, but the beauty of pre-season is that nothing is lost because of it. The good work remains good because of what it symbolises.On this occasion, it showed what Liverpool can become with top players like Wirtz, Szoboszlai and Isak combining.The press was strong, the quality on the ball was good and the Reds were even effective from set-pieces.Though the focus will be on the concerns of the second-half, that does not negate that the first was equally good as the second was bad.