Liverpool players left stranded in Chicago as strike legends step in to save away kit launch

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Liverpool have launched their new white away kit for the 2026-27 season, but the glitzy event did not go quite as planned.The launch of Liverpool's brand new away kit was thrown into chaos on Tuesday night after the team’s flight was left grounded in Chicago.The club were due to fly into New York, a little over 24 hours before their friendly with Wrexham, but were left stuck in Illinois due to adverse weather conditions on the East coast.In a hastily arranged compromise, the Reds instead unveiled their brand new away kit at an event in Brooklyn by calling on the services of Robbie Fowler and Ian Rush, who are part of the ‘legends’ circuit on the summer tour of the United States.The event was the latest milestone between the club and their German kit manufacturers, as the £600m partnership closed on its first-year anniversary on August 1.The glitzy affair was held at Brooklyn's Skylight at The Refinery, on the Williamsburg waterfront at the centre of Domino Park.The eye-catching glass dome, which overlooks the Manhattan skyline, was overtaken by Liverpool and Adidas for the night as the Reds rolled out their brand new away shirt for the 26/27 campaign under Andoni Iraola.But after Iraola and his players were left on the runway, two of the greatest strikers in the club's history, Fowler and Rush, were on hand to perform an impromptu unveiling.Content cannot be displayed without consentThe former No.9s were asked about their memories of previous kits and grounds they most remember scoring at in Liverpool away strips.Liverpool will now meet Wrexham at the Bronx's Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, and the launch of the new shirt was held as part of the build-up to that pre-season fixture, where Iraola's men are seeking to build on their 4-2 win over Sunderland on Saturday in Nashville.Inspired by Liverpool's away kits from the mid-80s, the new strip features red and grey detailing, while the heritage Liver bird crest sits alongside the return of the adidas Trefoil logo – celebrating a memorable period in the club's history and a partnership deeply rooted in football culture.Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 away kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreLiverpool FC have launched their new away kit for the 2026/27 season.

The kit "combines timeless design with modern performance innovation" and is inspired by its away strips from the 1980s.In a surprise first look earlier in the day, Reds supporter and DJ Calvin Harris gave fans an early glimpse of the new away kit during his headline set in Ibiza.The 2026/27 away kit is completed with red shorts and white socks, featuring coordinated detailing and adidas branding to create a clean on-pitch look.The current home shirt is inspired by the famous 1989/90 campaign under Sir Kenny Dalglish, when the Reds won their 18th league title.As part of the campaign, Liverpool and Adidas introduced a concept that attempted to 'bridge eras through AI reimagined visuals', with club legends such as Ian Rush, John Barnes and Alan Hansen featuring as they were in 1989 alongside Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Grace Fisk and Faye Kirby.Liverpool struck a 10-year agreement with German giants Adidas last summer in what was their first partnership since 2012, with the terms worth £60m a season to the Reds.The partnership began in record-breaking fashion in August of 2025, with last season's shirt proving to be the most successful in the club’s history, outstripping sales of the 24/25 jersey by over 700% at the time.Wirtz was the number one best seller for name and number printed on newly purchased shirts within the first week of last season's release and all profits from those honoured the late Diogo Jota on their kits went to the LFC Foundation, the club's official charity.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page