Spending Frenzy and Injury Setbacks at Liverpool and Tottenham

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 27, 2026

Liverpool won 4-2 against Sunderland in a pre-season match but faced setbacks with injuries to Joe Gomez and other key players amid a squad rebuild under new manager Andoni Iraola. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur are focused on strengthening their team following a narrow escape from relegation last season, with new signings and a youthful lineup aiming to restore their Premier League standing.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are navigating a challenging pre-season period marked by injury setbacks and ongoing squad rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2026-2027 campaign.

Liverpool, under new manager Andoni Iraola, secured a 4-2 victory over Sunderland in Nashville in Iraola’s managerial debut at Anfield. Goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa, and Lewis Koumas contributed to the win. However, the celebrations were tempered by an early injury to centre-back Joe Gomez, who was forced off the pitch after just nine minutes, adding to Liverpool’s defensive concerns. New signing Jeremy Jacquet was rested due to a shoulder issue, while Giovanni Leoni continues to recover from an ACL injury sustained earlier.

Iraola expressed disappointment at the loss of Gomez, saying the team had hoped to avoid injuries during pre-season but would take a cautious approach to Jacquet’s return. Liverpool are in a transitional phase having lost long-time star Mohamed Salah on a free transfer, and uncertainty remains over the future of forward Cody Gakpo. Meanwhile, striker Hugo Ekitike is sidelined for several months following an Achilles injury.

Off the pitch, Liverpool could also be on the verge of an ownership shake-up. A consortium led by business figures Amit Bhatia and Lakshmi Mittal is reportedly in discussions to acquire a 30 percent stake in the club for £1.35 billion. Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have been approached to join the investment group.

Liverpool’s transfer activity includes pursuing Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, a 23-year-old France international. While PSG is reportedly reluctant to sell the World Cup winner, they may consider a transfer should other moves materialize. However, the asking price for Barcola is said to be a British-record £140 million, with Liverpool currently favored in the race.

Tottenham Hotspur are also in rebuilding mode after a turbulent previous season that saw them narrowly avoid relegation on the final day. New signing Andrew Robertson emphasized the club’s ambition to return to their traditional upper-tier status in the Premier League and European competitions, reflecting expectations from fans, management, and players alike.

In a recent friendly, Tottenham fielded a youthful side led by 20-year-old captain Archie Gray. Dane Scarlett and Richarlison were among the goal scorers, while key players James Maddison and Destiny Udogie were absent due to minor injuries. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi noted that both Maddison and Udogie have not trained fully in recent days but face no serious medical issues. He underscored the importance of improving the squad’s physical condition ahead of the season, highlighting the need for endurance in his playing style.

Spurs are targeting new signings, including former City forward Savinho and Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, as they seek to strengthen their squad depth ahead of the new campaign.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.