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Andoni Iraola has started his spell as Liverpool head coach over the weekend.

His Reds claimed a 4-2 win over Sunderland in a pre-season friendly in Nashville, in the opening match of the USA tour.

Young players such as Lewis Koumas, Kieran Morrison and James McConnell all rose to the occasion. Liverpool’s academy set-up is in a strong position, with excellent talent being produced on a regular basis.

That was on display in the United States, and the hope is that the Basque tactician can find a way to hand those talents minutes over the coming months.

But it is not all positive news.

Joe Gomez suffers another injury

Joe Gomez was forced off with yet another injury, once again underlining that his long-term fitness cannot be counted on.

With Virgil van Dijk left out of the tour, Ifeanyi Ndukwe was brought off the bench to partner Mor Talla Ndiaye in the centre of defence - and Ndukwe will not be available to the club for the season ahead.

Liverpool have already lost Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer, while new signings Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet are still unavailable as they continue recovering from injury.

Liverpool need a senior centre-back, and quickly

Gomez’s setback has come at a very awkward time for Iraola, leaving the Merseyside club exposed in a crucial area just a few weeks before the Premier League season begins.

Van Dijk is expected to start as the first-choice option, but at the moment there is no clarity over who will partner the captain in defence.

Even once Leoni and Jacquet are fully fit, they still do not have the required first-team experience, and that should be setting off alarm bells inside the club’s decision-making rooms.

Suddenly, a new transfer priority emerges for Iraola

Lewis Steele, writing in the Daily Mail, is now reporting that centre-back has moved up the transfer priority list.

“All of a sudden, the need to sign a defender rises to the top of Liverpool’s shopping list alongside recruiting the Mohamed Salah replacement on the right wing,” the report reads.

Ideally, a defender who can also cover at right-back would be a smart addition, especially with Conor Bradley also expected to spend an extended period on the sidelines.