Kenyan-eligible defender Zak Vyner continued his encouraging preseason preparations with another assured display for Wrexham, despite the Championship side suffering a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in their fourth friendly of the summer at the iconic Yankee Stadium in New York on Thursday morning.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsThe January signing, who is eligible to represent Kenya but is yet to earn his first international cap, started in Wrexham's back three and played 63 minutes before making way for Max Cleworth, as manager Phil Parkinson made wholesale changes.The defeat was Wrexham's first of the 2026/27 preseason campaign after previous outings against Manchester United, Leeds United, and Wisla Krakow.##NAJAVA_MECA_9868128##It also marked Vyner's fourth appearance of the summer, having started against Manchester United and played the second half of the Wisla Krakow match before making a late cameo against Leeds United.Vyner once again showed why Wrexham invested heavily to secure his signature.The defender produced another composed defensive performance, finishing his shift with five defensive actions, including a clean tackle, two interceptions, two clearances, and two recoveries. He also won the only ground duel he contested.Tusker kiss CECAFA Kagame Cup goodbye after bowing to Rwandese giantsOn the ball, the former Bristol City defender registered 38 touches, completed 11 carries covering a total distance of 107.6 meters, and surrendered possession 11 times as Wrexham looked to build from the back against Liverpool's energetic young side.Liverpool eventually found the breakthrough in the 75th minute when England youth international Rio Ngumoha cut inside before seeing his effort take a deflection off Lewis Brunt and loop beyond goalkeeper Callum Burton.Before Vyner's withdrawal, Wrexham had matched the Premier League side for long spells and created several promising opportunities.Goalkeeper Danny Ward was called into action early to deny Joshua Abe, Lewis Koumas, and Callum Scanlon. At the opposite end, Sam Smith, Callum Doyle, and Davis Keillor-Dunn all threatened without finding the breakthrough.Wrexham nearly opened the scoring in the opening half when Smith forced Giorgi Mamardashvili into a smart save after Matty James' lofted delivery, although the move was later ruled offside.Kenya eyes CECAFA Challenge Cup to usher in matches at Talanta StadiumDoyle also headed straight at the Georgian goalkeeper shortly before the break.Following a raft of substitutions on the hour mark, Wrexham continued to push for an opener through Nathan Broadhead and George Dobson before Ngumoha's deflected effort settled the contest.Brunt came closest to rescuing an equalizer when he headed narrowly over from Dobson's cross, while Kieffer Moore saw two late efforts denied as Liverpool held on to hand the Red Dragons their first preseason defeat.##NAJAVA_MECA_9867848##
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