6 winners and losers as Rio Ngumoha decides Liverpool vs Wrexham from new role

Liverpool edged past Wrexham during a dull preseason encounter in New York City, as Rio Ngumoha scored the only goal off the bench to win it for the Premier League side. Andoni Iraola's men debuted their new away jersey, unveiled in Brooklyn on Tuesday night, but the performance didn't match the hype surrounding the new uniform. The jersey may be a popular addition, but some fans were upset to see red shorts paired with the white design . The playing surface was also difficult for both teams to handle , with Yankee Stadium, the home of the New York Yankees, not perfectly suited for soccer. Still, Ngumoha managed to benefit from a lucky bounce to score the only goal of the game. Ngumoha's goal off the bench settled the tie, but Joshua Abe should have scored for Liverpool in the first half. Abe was played through by Harvey Elliott, who appeared to suffer an injury scare in the second half. Wrexham also had chances to score, but Giorgi Mamardashvili performed well in the absence of Alisson. Here, Liverpool.com brings you three winners and three losers from the second game of the U.S. preseason tour. Iraola gave Koumas 63 minutes against Wrexham after his goal against Sunderland in Nashville, and the 20-year-old forward impressed once again for Liverpool. With a shortage of forward options, Koumas was the beneficiary of a rare start, but didn't disappoint, even during a dull game. Koumas spent the entirety of Arne Slot's tenure on loan, but helped Hull City reach the Premier League last season. He will likely be loaned out again, but he gave Iraola something to think about. The Welsh forward had two chances against Wrexham, and his eagerness to drive the ball forward will please the Liverpool coach. He also completed all of his passes in the final third, something that troubled Liverpool last season. Dominik Szoboszlai was by far Liverpool's most senior figure against Wrexham, and Andoni Iraola gave him the captain's armband. The new Liverpool head coach has yet to name his captaincy structure since arriving, with former vice-captain Andy Robertson no longer at the club. Virgil van Dijk remains the captain, but Iraola said he will name his backup at some stage this preseason. Szoboszlai had his audition on Wednesday and was a striking presence in the middle of the field, leading by example for his teammates. Szoboszlai recently signed a new five-year contract to commit his future to Liverpool and was perhaps their best player last season. His composure is evident, and it was clear to see against Wrexham that he has the total respect of his teammates, even with a younger lineup. Rio Ngumoha is one of Liverpool's greatest prospects and even earned recognition from Thomas Tuchel and the England national team before the World Cup. Often playing on the left wing, he was introduced on the opposite flank by Iraola against Wrexham. Liverpool has yet to replace Mohamed Salah and is lacking depth on the right wing. While talks for Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola continue, Ngumoha may have shown Iraola that he's willing to take on the role. Ngumoha continued to drive at his full-back and take him on, with his lightning speed and quick feet exciting the crowd. Iraola likes wingers who can adapt, but for now, Ngumoha off the right could be essential. Harvey Elliott should have had an assist in the first half after playing a stunning through ball to Joshua Abe, and he looked impressive against Wrexham. However, he may have suffered an injury as he was seen limping to the locker room before the game was over. Elliott walked with a trainer around the field at Yankee Stadium, heading for the locker room with 10 minutes to play. He had already been substituted, but Liverpool wasn't taking any risks. His left ankle was wrapped as he clapped the fans, hobbling down the tunnel. Elliott has been linked with a move away this summer, but has also been attempting to impress Iraola. Yankee Stadium is, of course, the home of the New York Yankees, the most famous and successful baseball team. New York City FC also uses this stadium as its MLS home, though it will soon move into a brand new soccer stadium. While it was an iconic venue to host Liverpool and Wrexham, the conditions made play and momentum difficult. The ball was seen bobbling throughout the opening stages, with the soccer field placed over a baseball surface. In Liverpool's territory during the first half, the baseball mound was covered, and a clear incline affected the ball's movement. Grass was also installed to cover the dirt, and the ball slowed down upon entering the disrupted surface. Another major difference was the field's size, particularly its width. It was extremely narrow, leaving little room to work with in the channel between the touchline and the penalty area. Around 35,000 fans filled Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, with the majority Liverpool supporters, though there was a strong number of Wrexham fans. Liverpool's preseason roster was boosted this week as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Ryan Gravenberch arrived in the U.S., but they were absent on Wednesday. Although fans in the U.S. are well aware that the FIFA World Cup has just concluded, which means several players are on an extended break, the absence of the three major stars was a huge blow to supporters. Dominik Szoboszlai, Milos Kerkez, Harvey Elliott, and Giorgi Mamardashvili were the only senior players to start, with Kostas Tsimikas, Jeremie Frimpong, Curtis Jones, and Rio Ngumoha on the bench. Liverpool last played in NYC in 2019, but it was far from an elite roster returning seven years later.