# Liverpool begin Iraola era with stylish win over Sunderland; Gomez injury highlights defensive issues

Liverpool secured a comfortable victory over Sunderland in Andoni Iraola's first match as manager, showcasing an attacking style. However, a late injury to defender Joe Gomez has raised concerns about the team's defensive depth ahead of a busy schedule. The result marks a positive start but the fitness of Gomez will be a key concern.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/26/liverpool-start-iraola-era-in-style-to-beat-sunderland-but-gomez-injury-puts-spotlight-on-defence) — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:49:24 GMT
- [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cm2genrg72do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 06:25:17 GMT