A late goal from 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha secured a narrow 1-0 victory for Liverpool over Wrexham in their pre-season friendly at New York's Yankee Stadium, in front of a crowd of 42,204. 

The win marks Liverpool's second consecutive victory on their U.S. tour under new head coach Andoni Iraola, following a 4-2 win against Sunderland . However, the experimental lineup and a largely lackluster performance may have provided the coaching staff with more questions than answers.

Youngster's Impact Decides the Game

After a quiet first half that saw few clear-cut chances, the match was decided by a moment of individual brilliance from substitute Rio Ngumoha. The young forward, who came on at half-time, drove at the Wrexham defense from the right flank before his low shot took a heavy deflection off defender Lewis Brunt, looping over goalkeeper Callum Burton and into the net in the 75th minute .

For Ngumoha, who is being tipped as a potential long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, being deployed on the right flank was a notable tactical choice . "All the coaching staff are just telling me to play my normal game really, whether that's going inside or outside. I've been working on it in training anyway, playing on the right and the left. Just being unpredictable really," Ngumoha said after the match .

An Experimental Lineup and Mixed Performances

With several key players still unavailable, Iraola fielded a youthful side, handing a start to 16-year-old winger Josh Abe, who is already being pursued by top clubs . The teenager nearly made an immediate impact but was denied by former Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward after a pass from Harvey Elliott .

Trey Nyoni's Showcase: In midfield, 19-year-old Trey Nyoni impressed with his composure on the ball, completing 59 of his 63 passes and looking a calm presence in the center of the park .

Elliott's Struggle: Conversely, Harvey Elliott had a quiet game. Despite a solid performance in the first friendly, he struggled to make an impact against Wrexham, highlighting the intense competition for places in Liverpool's midfield under the new manager .

Match Context and Logistics

The fixture was a homecoming of sorts for Iraola, who finished his playing career with New York City FC at the same stadium . Wrexham's Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, were in attendance to watch their team, which pushed Liverpool close despite the defeat .

Liverpool's preparations for the game were disrupted after their flight from Chicago was cancelled due to adverse weather, forcing the team to arrive in New York on the morning of the match .

What's Next for Liverpool

The Reds will conclude their U.S. tour with a third and final friendly against Leeds United at Chicago's Soldier Field on Sunday . Key players such as Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, and Alexander Isak, who have been recovering after the World Cup, are expected to be involved in that match .