CHICAGO: Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored two of Leeds United’s four second-half goals as they rallied for a 4-2 friendly win over Liverpool on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The stunning comeback saw Liverpool handed their first defeat under new coach Andoni Iraola, who arrived this summer from Bournemouth to replace the sacked Arne Slot.

“Obviously it’s not the result you want but I think it was probably the most useful friendly we played in a positive way in the first half and in a negative way in the second half,” Irola said.

“We’ve learned a lot from today and I think we can take good conclusions and solve some things.”

Liverpool had notched a 4-2 win over Sunderland and a 1-0 victory against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in the first two matches of their US tour.

They looked in control on Sunday with a pair of first-half goals before Leeds stormed back against their English Premier League rivals.

US midfielder Brenden Aaronson launched the fightback in the 60th minute and Calvert-Lewin pulled Leeds level in the 71st, firing in at the back post after Joe Rodon flicked on a long Ethan Ampadu throw.

Sean Longstaff’s scuffling finish in the 73rd gave Leeds a 3-2 lead and Calvert-Lewin made it 4-2 with a near-replica of his first goal in the 85th, when Ampadu’s throw was sent on by Sebastian Bornauw and he headed in.

The victory was Leeds’ second on their US tour, which opened with a 3-2 loss to Wrexham in Tampa, Florida before a 1-0 victory over Sunderland in New Jersey.

Liverpool had opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner was flicked on by Milos Kerkez and slammed home by Luke Chambers from six yards out.

Florian Wirtz doubled the tally in the 40th minute, tucking in a cross from Jeremie Frimpong.

Frimpong, though, asked to be substituted in the second half but Irola downplayed the injury concerns.

“Jeremie asked for the sub but I don’t think it’s an injury,” Iraola told Liverpool media after the game. “It was just some overload and I hope he’s not injured in that way. I don’t think we’ve lost anyone.”

Liverpool can ill afford to lose the 25-year-old with the club already suffering several injury setbacks ahead of the new Premier League season.

Defender Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of the campaign after suffering a muscle injury in their win over Sunderland, while Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined as they continue to recover from injuries.

Germany’s Wirtz was one of a trio of World Cup players who returned to action for Liverpool on Sunday, along with Ryan Gravenberch of the Netherlands and Alexander Isak of Sweden.

Liverpool, who finished fifth last term, visit Newcastle United in their opening Premier League fixture on Aug 23.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2026