A 4-2 defeat to Leeds United in Chicago brought Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States to a sobering close, leaving manager Andoni Iraola with serious questions to answer ahead of the new campaign.

The match was a study in contrasts. Liverpool were sharp, organised, and full of purpose in the first half — arguably their finest 45 minutes under Iraola — but the second half unravelled spectacularly as Leeds scored four times in the space of 25 minutes against a largely inexperienced backline.

Isak and Wirtz shine before the storm

With Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz both returning from their respective absences, Liverpool's starting line-up carried star quality to match the occasion in Chicago. The pair, who cost a combined £225 million last summer, looked dangerous from the outset.

The breakthrough arrived in the 7th minute from an unlikely source: Luke Chambers, a left-back who spent last season's second half on loan at Charlton Athletic, started at centre-back and hammered home after Milos Kerkez got a touch on Dominik Szoboszlai's corner.

Nineteen-year-old Trey Nyoni continued his impressive pre-season with another assured performance. In the 40th minute, Nyoni floated a cross to Jeremie Frimpong, who cut the ball back for Wirtz to finish — a sweeping team goal that also involved Isak. Rio Ngumoha caused problems down the left flank throughout.

Second half falls apart

Iraola made wholesale changes at half-time and in the second half, but the collapse that followed was difficult to explain away. Leeds dismantled a reshuffled defence that finished with Calvin Ramsay, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, and Mor Talla Ndiaye at the back — a combination that exposed the squad's lack of depth and physicality.

Set-piece defending was a particular concern.