Liverpool kicked off their new Premier League season with a challenging away match against Newcastle United, salvaging a draw thanks to a last-minute penalty converted by Dominik Szoboszlai. Under the guidance of Andoni Iraola, they face a long campaign ahead, but pre-season preparations have already highlighted those who made impressive strides and those whose positions have become precarious.
Key winners from pre-season
Trey Nyoni: The 19-year-old midfielder has emerged as the standout revelation of the summer, clocking 252 minutes across six friendlies. Iraola deployed the young talent as a deep playmaker, where he expertly broke opposition presses and initiated attacks. Against Leeds United, Nyoni boasted a staggering 95% passing accuracy, and following his substitution, Liverpool's grip on midfield was lost, leading to the concession of four goals. Iraola has underscored that Nyoni is ready to feature in the first team and will be an invaluable asset this season.
Dominik Szoboszlai: The Hungarian midfielder has been the team's leading figure in terms of playing time this summer, racking up 355 minutes over five matches, and contributing a goal and two assists. His performance against Sunderland earned him a top rating of 8.2 from Sofascore, thanks to an impressive 28 successful passes from 29 attempts. Captaining in several pre-season friendlies, Szoboszlai has become the main conduit for the coaching staff's ideas, showcasing remarkable intensity, stamina, and vertical vision.
Rio Ngumoha: The young English winger spent 227 minutes on the pitch and scored the winner against Wrexham, earning a mention as one of the standout performers of the summer according to ESPN. His tactical development has been pivotal, with Iraola expanding his role to allow him to operate on both flanks, making him a versatile attacking option.
Jeremie Frimpong: The Dutch defender played for 338 minutes (the third most in the squad) and provided two assists in matches against Leeds and Como. He has shown excellent fitness, avoiding injuries and receiving public praise from his manager for a solid performance both defensively and offensively, firmly establishing himself as the starting right-back.
Jeremie Jaka: The French newcomer missed nearly all of pre-season due to a shoulder injury, but a single half (45 minutes) against Como was enough to impress fans and pundits alike. He bagged the team's second goal, dominated duels, and displayed a calm, high-level first pass, earning a 9/10 rating from Liverpool.com and This Is Anfield.
Major disappointments and losers of the summer
Harvey Elliott: Following a disappointing loan spell at Aston Villa, the midfielder managed just 190 minutes and one assist, failing to regain his foothold in the side. Iraola experimented with Elliott in the 'number 10' position and on both wings, but the player struggled to adapt to the new system, finishing pre-season as a reserve with an uncertain future.
Federico Chiesa: Aside from scoring in the first match against Sunderland, the Italian had a disastrous preparation. Playing centre-forward against Leeds and Como, Chiesa struggled to hold onto the ball, lost duels, and failed to add depth to the attack, earning a score of 5/10 from Liverpool.com. He lost out to young Lewis Kuma, who played 281 minutes, and failed to convince the staff of his worth as an attacking alternative.
Joe Gomez: The defender started against Sunderland wearing the captain's armband, but was forced off just eight minutes in due to yet another muscle injury. Set to be sidelined for at least a month, Gomez missed a golden opportunity to stake his claim for a starting spot, falling behind emerging talent and new signings.
Georgiy Mamardashvili: The Georgian goalkeeper logged the most minutes among shot-stoppers (348 minutes in five matches) but failed to challenge Alisson's status. Issues with ball distribution under pressure and conceding four goals against Leeds highlighted that the keeper remains far from being Liverpool's number one.
Wataru Endo: Missing the US tour due to recovery from a pre-World Cup injury, the experienced midfielder managed just 115 minutes in two outings. The coaching staff had to deploy him in central defence, causing Endo to lose valuable adaptation time in midfield, where the Szoboszlai-Gravenberch partnership has flourished, along with the emergence of young Nyoni.
