Manager Andoni Iraola offered a candid assessment after Liverpool suffered a 4-2 defeat to Leeds United in Chicago on Sunday, describing the loss as "probably the most useful friendly we played" — for better and for worse.

The first half gave Iraola encouragement. The second half gave him a problem to solve. In 25 second-half minutes, Liverpool conceded four times to Leeds, exposing a backline that lacked the quality and depth required for the Premier League season ahead.

A defence in need of reinforcements

Iraola has made no secret of his concerns, repeatedly describing his squad as "thin" at the back. The departures of Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have left the club light on experience, while new signing Jeremy Jacquet did not play a single minute on the pre-season tour as Liverpool manage his return from injury.

Virgil van Dijk is back in training and will captain the side, but he needs a reliable partner at centre-back. Liverpool open their Premier League campaign at Newcastle United in fewer than three weeks, and neither Joe Gomez nor Giovanni Leoni is expected to be fit in time. Conor Bradley remains "way off" a return at right-back, a position Arne Slot was forced to fill with Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai last season — a solution Iraola cannot afford to repeat.

At a minimum, Liverpool require at least one experienced defender capable of playing both centre-back and right-back before the season kicks off.

"You have to ask the manager, not me," Szoboszlai said when asked about his role going forward. "Last season I played a lot of positions. Hopefully he puts me in midfield but if he needs me at right-back, happy to do that."

Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson, speaking to BBC Sport in Chicago, stressed the need for leadership to emerge within the dressing room. "That dressing room needs to be tight and they need strong voices. Right now, there's only Virgil and Alisson. Someone like Szoboszlai has to step up too and I think he will."

Barcola the primary target up front

In midfield, Liverpool are more settled. Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch signed new contracts this year, and Iraola will be counting on Alexis Mac Allister to rediscover the form that deserted him for much of last season.

Curtis Jones looks set to join Inter Milan for around £35 million, a move that will partly depend on how Trey Nyoni, 19, develops after an impressive pre-season. Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic have returned to training, while Harvey Elliott's future at the club is still to be determined.

Up front, PSG winger Bradley Barcola has emerged as Liverpool's primary attacking target after the club missed out on Yan Diomande. Liverpool have already brought in Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34 million. PSG value Barcola at £145 million, but Liverpool are prepared to negotiate closer to the £100 million mark, and the player is understood to be open to a move to Anfield.

With Mohamed Salah having departed, 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha is expected to see more time on the right flank. Ngumoha looked most at home on the left against Leeds, but Iraola wants wingers who can operate on both sides.

A decision is also pending on Federico Chiesa, who has expressed a desire to fight for his place despite links to a return to Italy. Cody Gakpo's future has attracted interest, including from Tottenham Hotspur, though any departure would only come if a replacement is secured — and with four years remaining on his contract, Gakpo would not come cheaply.

FSG president Mike Gordon watched Sunday's defeat in person in Chicago. Like everyone else connected to the club, he saw the promise of the Iraola era burst to life in the first half — and the scale of the work still to be done in the second.