Liverpool start Iraola era in style to beat Sunderland but Gomez injury puts spotlight on defence

Liverpool defeated Sunderland 4-2 in a pre-season friendly in Nashville, marking Andoni Iraola's first game as the club's new head coach. Joe Gomez was forced off injured after just 10 minutes, leaving two teenagers to form Liverpool's central defensive partnership for the remainder of the match. Second-half goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa, and Lewis Koumas secured the comfortable victory, though concerns over defensive depth were highlighted by Gomez's early exit.