Liverpool step up their preparations for the new season with a New York friendly against Championship promotion hopefuls Wrexham.
There has been plenty of change at Anfield over the summer with Andoni Iraola arriving from Bournemouth as manager and seasoned players Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all leaving for pastures new.
The Reds are still easing their World Cup stars back into action but they were 4-2 winners in their Premier League Summer Series opener against Sunderland, despite fielding an inexperienced side.
Wrexham, helped by being owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are competing in this pre-season tournament despite being the only Championship outfit involved.
The Red Dragons are among the favourites for promotion to the Premier League next season but are the only Championship club not to make a signing.
However, that didn’t stop them from beating Leeds 3-2 in their Premier League Summer Series opener, having also edged past Manchester United 1-0 at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium prior to that.
But Liverpool represent another hike in grade and Phil Parkinson’s side may find this much tougher.
Liverpool v Wrexham Tips Summary
Best Bet - Liverpool to win & both teams to score @ 7/5
Alternative Bet - Dominik Szoboszlai anytime goalscorer @ 8/5
Bet Builder - Liverpool to score in both halves, Rio Ngumoha anytime goalscorer & Over 7 corners @ 4/1
Liverpool v Wrexham Prediction
Best Bet: Liverpool to win & both teams to score @ 7/5
Liverpool fielded an inexperienced team for their first pre-season friendly with Sunderland but were able to record a 4-2 victory with Dominik Szoboszlai helping to complete the turnaround after his second-half introduction.
With Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch among those given time to recover from the World Cup, this Liverpool side is weaker than will be the case in a couple of weeks time and that offers Wrexham hope.
However, the likes of Szoboszlai, Rio Ngumoha, Curtis Jones, Kieran Morrison and Harvey Elliott provide Liverpool with plenty of pace and energy and that will suit the system of new boss Iraola, who established himself as a prominent proponent of high-intensity football.
Wrexham did beat Leeds 3-2 in their first game in the States to show the danger that they possess in the final third but Liverpool should create plenty of chances and their added quality can tell.
Alternative Bet: Dominik Szoboszlai anytime goalscorer @ 8/5
Being one of the most experienced players in the squad, Szoboszlai will be expected to lead by example and he did just that in the 4-2 win over Sunderland, coming on at half-time to level things at 2-2 before assisting Lewis Koumas for the final goal.
Szoboszlai is versatile and can play in a number of positions but he will be expected to be chief creator in the No. 10 role for Liverpool and being on set-pieces makes him a serious scoring threat.
The Hungarian is one of the best strikers of a ball in the Premier League, so backs himself from distance, and his equalising goal against the Black Cats epitomised that.
Szoboszlai scored 13 goals in 53 appearances for Liverpool last season and, following Salah’s departure, there is every chance he could now be on penalties as well as free-kicks.
Liverpool v Wrexham Bet Builder Tip
Liverpool to score in both halves
Rio Ngumoha anytime goalscorer
Over 7 corners
Pays 4/1
Liverpool’s opening game of the Premier League Summer Series featured six goals, with them scoring in both halves of their win over Sunderland, while Wrexham prevailed in a five-goal thriller with Leeds.
The goals should flow again as players get up to speed and aim to entertain with tricky Reds winger Rio Ngumoha a leading goalscoring candidate.
The world is at the feet of Ngumoha, with the 17-year-old scoring twice in last season’s Premier League, and this could be the time that he kicks on.
Given the high chance of a high-scoring encounter, there should be plenty of opportunities at both ends and that can contribute to a big corner count in New York.
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Key Match Stats
Liverpool have scored at least twice in five of their last seven outings
Both teams have scored in Liverpool’s last seven matches
Three of Wrexham’s last five games have gone over 3.5 goals
Wrexham have lost only one of their last seven games
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai has scored or assisted in six of his last nine games for club and country
Wrexham have conceded in 10 of their last 15 outings
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
