Andoni Iraola began his Liverpool managerial spell with a victory against Sunderland in Nashville, yet concerns about defensive resources grew sharper. Joe Gomez limped off after just 10 minutes of the new head coach's opening fixture, forcing two teenagers into an untested central defensive pairing and placing extra focus on an area requiring attention.

Liverpool encountered little trouble at the attacking end versus Regis Le Bris's team, who wore pink in Tennessee, where second-half strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas secured a straightforward success.

Probably the biggest setback came immediately with the injury to Joe, Iraola noted, though he praised energetic showings from Calum Scanlon, Kieran Morrison and Koumas.

We felt positive as training progressed without any player losses, yet unfortunately Joe was sidelined right away, he added.

Geodis Park honored the late Kevin Keegan before Saturday's kickoff, with fans from both clubs applauding the former Liverpool, Hamburg and Newcastle star before a respectful silence. Attendance was modest at the 30,000-capacity venue, officially listed as 24,897, possibly due to ticket prices ranging from $129 to $392 for a pre-season friendly without several World Cup participants.

Sunderland missed Granit Xhaka, Brian Brobbey and new arrival Thomas Meunier. Liverpool's unavailable players included World Cup finalists Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz, plus Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch, who join the tour next week, along with Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Alisson, who restart pre-season on Merseyside next week.

Liverpool also lacked one summer signing. Jeremy Jacquet, brought in for an initial £55m from Rennes, was omitted as a precaution but should appear before the tour ends against Leeds in Chicago next Sunday.

With Jeremy we chose to proceed cautiously, Iraola said. He has gone several months without matches, trained well, but we will ease him in. He will likely feature in the final US tour game and gain some minutes then.

After voicing concerns about very limited defensive depth earlier in the week, Iraola faced further strain when Gomez suffered his early injury. The unfortunate Gomez could not continue, leaving Liverpool's center-back roles to two 18-year-olds signed in January, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe. Kostas Tsimikas assumed the captaincy from Gomez before handing it to Szoboszlai at half-time.

Talla Ndiaye, acquired for £1m from Amitie in Senegal, and Ndukwe, signed for £2.5m from Austria Vienna and only arriving this summer, illustrate Liverpool's approach of signing central defenders with long-term potential. Immediate needs must also be met. With Ibrahima Konate departing for Real Madrid, Giovanni Leoni still recovering from an ACL injury, Gomez frequently sidelined and Jacquet unproven in the Premier League despite high regard, Van Dijk will carry significant responsibility next season, as he did last year.

The player who netted the first goal of the Iraola era at Liverpool was Kieran Morrison. The 19-year-old winger began on the right, the position vacated by Mohamed Salah, and slotted a precise finish into the far corner of Melker Ellborg's net after being played in by Harvey Elliott, another player eager to impress the new head coach after a disappointing loan at Aston Villa.

Sunderland leveled stylishly as Enzo Le Fée advanced from midfield and curled an outstanding shot into Giorgi Mamardashvili's top corner from 25 yards. Le Bris made 10 substitutions at half-time and Iraola five, after which Sunderland went ahead when Jaydon Jones found Timur Tutierov inside the box and the forward finished from 12 yards.

Szoboszlai delivered the moment many spectators had paid to witness by controlling a loose clearance 22 yards out and beating Ellborg with a firm strike. Chiesa guided a smart shot inside the near post from Calvin Ramsay's pass beyond the Sunderland defense before Koumas, set up by Szoboszlai, confirmed the result.