Winners and losers from Liverpool's pre-season tour of USA as regrettable meltdown says it all

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageWINNERSTREY NYONISorry Swansea City, your hopes of loaning Nyoni should be up in smoke after this tour.It's always risky making judgements on the basis of pre-season games alone but Nyoni looks like he has come on leaps and bounds since last year under Arne Slot, when his entire term featured just 21 Premier League minutes.In truth, that was down to former boss Slot feeling he needed his senior, experienced pros to dig the team out of a hole of their own making, but Nyoni should be considered a first-team player now.He was excellent in all three games and shone brightest against Leeds United in a first-half cameo that whetted the appetite of the Liverpool fans at Chicago's Soldier Field.It's understandable why many consider Rio Ngumoha the next breakout star at Anfield but Nyoni, while far more understated, looks just as talented in his own right in the centre of the park. It's just a shame it won't be at Liverpool just yet, as work-permit issues mean he needs to be loaned.FLORIAN WIRTZFlorian Wirtz only played one sixth of the pre-season schedule, featuring for just 45 minutes of the game against Leeds, but the playmaker still showed more than enough to suggest this season might be different.The difficulties endured by the Germany international have been well documented and not all of his own making, but this summer represents a clean slate for everyone and no-one - besides Alexander Isak perhaps - is ready to embrace that more than Wirtz, the £116m attacking midfielder.Liverpool moved heaven and earth last summer to sign Wirtz ahead of Manchester City and Bayern Munich, with a charm offensive that began as far back as the winter of 2024, when they allowed Bayer Leverkusen to use the facilities of the AXA Training Centre the morning after a Champions League victory over the Bundesliga club.There was an ulterior motive beyond simply allowing club legend Xabi Alonso and his staff the chance to train at the £50m base.

But after a tough first year, much more is now expected of the 22-year-old and this outing against Leeds, which culminated with a goal, was a big positive for those who believe Wirtz is now ready to finally take full flight.LOSERSCURTIS JONESA meltdown over the captain's armband in a pre-season friendly, a trio of ineffectual performances and renewed transfer interest from Inter; it's fair to say Curtis Jones has enjoyed more distinguished fortnights as a Liverpool player.The nadir came when he went viral for all the wrong reasons on the pitch at Yankee Stadium in New York last week. Jones' unhappy pre-season suggests that a change of scenery may yet be best for all concerned.JOE GOMEZWith Virgil van Dijk back on Merseyside and Jeremy Jacquet sidelined, this tour presented Joe Gomez with a real opportunity to show a new coach exactly what he is all about.As a versatile and long-serving member of the squad - Gomez is now on his fourth manager - the experienced former England defender might have felt he could lay down a marker to return to the role he has always had designs on fullfilling - a Liverpool centre-half.But just eight minutes into the summer schedule, that dream was in tatters.

That is some achievement inside eight minutes.JEREMY JACQUETJeremy Jacquet joined officially joined Liverpool at the start of July with it being privately insisted that he was ready to begin pre-season training.But three friendlies into the summer period and the new £60m defender is yet to kick a ball for his new club and there are serious concerns over who starts the game alongside Virgil van Dijk when Newcastle United are visitied on August 23.Jacquet was already up against it having not played since a season-ending shoulder injury in February and given he is only turning 21 this month, expecting immediate results from such a young and inexperienced player feels harsh.It's unclear at this stage of his injury is related to the shoulder issue of earlier this year or if he has picked up a different injury entirely. But one thing is clear - the pre-season tour of the USA totally passed him by.Curtis Jones uploaded a picture of the Frenchman asleep on his Instagram account on Saturday and while the image was largely viewed in the spirit it was intended - as two team-mates simply enjoying some pre-season banter - the picture of Jacquet's slumber was oddly fitting for his USA tour.Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 away kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.