Three Key Takeaways From Liverpool's Hard-Fought Win Against Wrexham

Liverpool kept their unbeaten run intact under new boss Andoni Iraola, claiming a narrow 1–0 victory over Wrexham in his second game at the helm.

The second-to-last fixture on Liverpool's U.S. tour was far from a thriller and lacked the attacking fireworks of the previous 4–2 triumph over Sunderland. Rio Ngumoha netted the only goal at Yankee Stadium, with the youngster's heavily deflected strike arriving in the 75th minute.

But preseason is more about performances than scorelines, and there was plenty to keep Iraola interested. Still missing a significant number of senior players, a patched-up and youthful squad did their new manager justice in New York.

Here are three takeaways from a hard-earned victory for the Reds.

The Kids Are Alright

Once again, Liverpool put out an inexperienced starting lineup. Iraola had little choice given his limited options, and the Spaniard named just three players over the age of 22 in his XI.

Among the starters, Trey Nyoni was the standout performer. Following an elegant display against Sunderland, the 19-year-old holding midfielder once more demonstrated his composure and technical quality as he helped Liverpool dictate the rhythm in central midfield. There is still work to be done on his physicality and pressing intensity, but his ability on the ball is undeniable.

18-year-old center back Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who stepped in for the injured Joe Gomez against Sunderland, was equally impressive. Assured and composed, he looked entirely comfortable alongside defensive partner Luke Chambers. Unfortunately for Iraola, the Austrian defender will be ineligible to play for Liverpool next season due to work permit complications.

Lewis Koumas, who got on the scoresheet against Sunderland, also showed plenty of energy in the attacking third, as did Calum Scanlon in a more advanced position than he typically occupies.

The second half brought further youthful additions. Ngumoha made the decisive contribution with his goal, while Kieran Morrison and James McConnell also delivered encouraging cameos—both having caught the eye in Iraola's opening match.

Harvey Elliott Handed Second Chance

Calling Harvey Elliott's loan stint at Aston Villa a disappointment would be putting it mildly. The attacking midfielder was sidelined by Unai Emery after failing to make a meaningful impact, with Villa conscious that Elliott would be signed permanently upon reaching 10 appearances. Consequently, he featured just nine times.

Arne Slot was never a strong advocate for Elliott, but Iraola's appointment represents a fresh opportunity for the 23-year-old. For the second consecutive match, he started as the number 10 in his manager's 4-2-3-1 setup.

Having registered an assist during his 45-minute outing against Sunderland, Elliott radiated confidence again on Wednesday. A sublime through ball for 16-year-old Josh Abe (more on him shortly) should have produced an assist within just three minutes, and former Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward then denied him a morale-boosting goal shortly after half-time with a sharp save.

Elliott has certainly done his standing no harm during this summer's preseason action.

The Right Wing Conundrum

Liverpool's struggles on the right wing have been widely discussed since Mohamed Salah's departure. The club have already brought in another left winger in Victor Muñoz and are pushing to sign Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola, who also favors the left flank.

Iraola already has Cody Gakpo and Ngumoha available on the left side, with Federico Chiesa and Florian Wirtz also capable of operating there. Options on the opposite flank, however, remain scarce.

16-year-old Abe was handed a starting berth on the right for the first half against Wrexham, the gifted academy prospect known for his electric pace and sharp footwork. He arguably should have opened his senior account early in the game, though his overall influence was fairly modest thereafter.

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Iraola turned to Ngumoha after the interval, testing the teenager in the right-wing role. The experiment yielded some positive results, with Ngumoha supplying the match-winning goal from that position, though he completed just one of four attempted dribbles and registered only two touches inside the Wrexham box.

Ngumoha is likely to get further opportunities in that role during preseason, but Liverpool's right-wing problem remains an issue that needs addressing.