Liverpool's first pre-season under new boss Andoni Iraola has not been without its challenges - but one reason for optimism is the emergence of 18-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe. Iraola's side are short of numbers in central defence, so Austrian teenager Ndukwe has been handed more minutes than even he might have expected. Joe Gomez picked up an injury in Liverpool's first pre-season game, while £60m signing Jeremy Jacquet has been absent with a niggling knee issue and Giovanni Leoni is recovering from a serious knee injury - and Ndukwe has grasped his chance to impress. With two lots of 90 minutes and an 80-minute display already under his belt, Ndukwe was handed a start alongside captain Virgil van Dijk against Monaco at Anfield on Sunday. After the departure of France international Ibrahima Konate, it remains unclear who will partner Van Dijk in Liverpool's opening Premier League game against Newcastle.