Rio Ngumoha’s deflected strike earns Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Wrexham in New York

Rio Ngumoha’s 75th-minute effort, which ricocheted off a Wrexham defender, settled a low-key friendly as Liverpool beat Wrexham 1-0 at Yankee Stadium. The match produced few clear openings and did little to enliven the 42,204 spectators in attendance.

Liverpool had turned the Empire State Building red when launching a new away kit on Tuesday, and played at the iconic baseball venue a day later. Andoni Iraola is on his first pre-season tour as Liverpool head coach, and the victory on home soil in New York marked two wins from two for his side. Wrexham’s high-profile owners were present in the crowd; Ryan Reynolds had dubbed the trip a "punch-me moment", and Rob McElhenney (now simply Rob Mac) also attended.

Ngumoha, introduced in the second half and positioned on the right by Iraola, produced the decisive moment in the 75th minute. His shot looped into the net after contacting Wrexham defender Lewis Brunt, giving Liverpool the solitary goal they required. The finish was enough to satisfy a large portion of the audience at Yankee Stadium.

The contest was largely devoid of sustained intensity, with few genuine goal-scoring chances created by either side. Both teams appeared to be working through tactical ideas rather than chasing an open, end-to-end encounter. The setting — a pre-season friendly on a baseball diamond — contributed to a contained atmosphere rather than a raucous football spectacle.

Iraola used the opportunity to try different personnel and formations, deploying Ngumoha from the bench on the right flank. The win extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run on the tour and provided a positive, if limited, return in terms of result. Wrexham, who attracted attention owing to their ownership and growing profile, could not capitalise on the occasion to force a different outcome.

The match underlined the low-stakes nature of many summer friendlies: results count, but the primary aim appeared to be assessment and preparation. With a narrow 1-0 scoreline and a single deflected strike separating the teams, the fixture offered little concrete evidence about long-term form for either side.

For Liverpool, the victory completed a successful pair of pre-season outings under Iraola, while Wrexham’s owners and travelling supporters witnessed a close contest that produced a solitary, decisive moment. The outcome leaves both clubs with a clear result but few decisive answers about squad shape or match rhythm.