Liverpool beat Sunderland 4-2 as Gomez exits hurt in Iraola debut
What's next: Joe Gomez went off after eight minutes, leaving Liverpool to finish with two 18-year-old center backs.
Liverpool opened the Andoni Iraola era with a 4-2 preseason win over Sunderland in Nashville, but Joe Gomez's early injury sharpened concerns about the club's thin defense. Gomez, who started as captain at center back, left in the eighth minute after treatment, forcing Liverpool to rely on teenage debutants Mor Talla N'diaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe in central defense. Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas scored for Liverpool, while Enzo Le Fee and Timur Tutierov found the net for Sunderland. Iraola had already described his back line as "very thin," and new signing Jeremy Jacquet was held out as a precaution during the US tour opener at Geodis Park.