Andoni Iraola says he hopes to have four Liverpool players back involved for the first time this pre-season when his side take on Leeds on Sunday.
The Reds beat Wrexham 1-0 in their latest pre-season friendly in New York, thanks to a Rio Ngumoha goal.
Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Jeremy Jacquet were among those not involved again, but Iraola says he is hoping to have them all play a part later this week.
Y"es, my idea is for Ryan [Gravenberch], for Florian [Wirtz], for Alex [Isak], for even Jeremy Jacquet to have their first minutes against Leeds," he said.
"We'll see how many minutes they can play but we have to start slowly, slowly integrating more of the senior players that have had less training sessions. I think they should be ready on the weekend to have their first minutes."

#iraola

After a record summer spend last season of £450m, Liverpool were disappointing on the pitch.
Ultimately, that led to the sacking of Arne Slot at the end of the campaign. Senior players like Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all left on free transfers too.
It has been a summer of change at Liverpool with Michael Edwards stepping down as FSG's CEO of football, primarily because plans of multi-club ownership were abandoned.
Meanwhile, Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, is linked with a move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. There is certainly a question of stability.
"Transition and change is inevitable in football. In our case, with a new coach coming in, there's real excitement around Andoni's [Iraola] mindset and philosophy that supporters will really enjoy," says CEO Billy Hogan.

#summer #change #salah

Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is hopeful that the arrival of Andoni Iraola will help him secure a "second chance" at establishing himself within the squad, following a challenging loan spell last season.
The 23-year-old endured a difficult time at Aston Villa, where he featured in only nine games, totalling 277 minutes. His limited appearances were due to a specific clause in his loan agreement, which would have obligated Villa to sign him for £35 million had he made a tenth appearance.
Elliott returned to Liverpool's midfield for their 1-0 pre-season friendly victory over Wrexham in New York on Wednesday night. Despite ongoing speculation linking him with another move away, the player expressed his deep connection to the club.
"Everyone knows how much I love the club," Elliott stated after the match. "I've supported them from a very young age so the feeling never goes of putting the shirt back on and representing the club. It's a childhood dream. Every time I put the shirt on I want to give it 100 per cent."
Reflecting on his previous season, Elliott acknowledged the difficulties but is now focused on getting his career back on track.

#time

Rio Ngumoha thrived off the right and scored the only goal in Liverpool's pre-season win over Wrexham in New York, leaving Andoni Iraola with a potential transfer conundrum.
The 17-year-old sensation saw his deflected effort loop in off Wrexham defender Lewis Brunt in the 75th minute, an action which proved the difference at the famous Yankee Stadium.
A night which saw the Reds launch their new away kit, Ngumoha was brought on as a second-half substitute by Iraola and was deployed at right wing, a position that is currently central to Liverpool's transfer plans after the departure of Mohamed Salah at the end of last season.
Liverpool have been heavily linked with a big-money move for Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola, with widespread reports claiming the club are readying an opening bid.
After Ngumoha's impressive cameo, however, it remains to be seen how willing Liverpool will be to break the bank for Barcola, particularly given their desire to avoid hindering the highly-rated youngster's development.

#Liverpool

Rio Ngumoha has revealed that the demands new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has asked from him in pre-season.
Ngumoha scored the decisive goal as Liverpool beat Wrexham 1-0 overnight, with the winger's strike taking a looping deflection to deceive Callum Burton.
The 17-year-old had a breakout campaign last season, which concluded with an England debut after being invited to join the Three Lions' pre-World Cup training campaign.
At club level, Ngumoha is now out to impress new head coach Iraola, and prove he can be a central part of the Spaniard's plans for the upcoming campaign.
Asked about Iraola's demands so far, Ngumoha outlined an emphasis on off-the-ball work, and how he is working on his unpredictability.

#campaign #iraola #head

Liverpool have confirmed a surprise transfer.
Things are finally starting to kick into gear in the market for the Reds. It's been a messy window so far and pretty fruitless as well.
This may be Richard Hughes' final window in charge of Liverpool, as a move to Al Hilal beckons and his legacy is definitely on the line. Sure, Hughes delivered last summer with big money signings but he also created an imbalance in the squad that cost Arne Slot his job.
Now Andoni Iraola is in charge and his squad is again very thin, it's probably weakened since last season considering several key players have already left.
At the start of the summer Liverpool fans had big expectations for marquee names to arrive and replace the likes of Mo Salah and Andy Robertson.

#Liverpool #last

Three of the traditional "big six" have new managers, the defending champions have a key injury and Tottenham and Chelsea are breaking transfer records.
After years of Manchester City dominance followed by Liverpool and ******* nal winning ******* les by at least seven points, the Premier League is due a wide open, unpredictable, multi-club ******* le race.
Here are four reasons why 2026-27 could be that season.
Enzo Maresca (left), Andoni Iraola (centre) and Xabi Alonso (right) are all at new clubs this year [Getty Images]
How do you replace the irreplaceable?

#Chelsea #city

Two starts are hashing it out to be Liverpool's new striker this season. But who will Andoni Iraola pick?
Liverpool are unfortunately light at centre-forward, despite spending over £200m on the role last summer. Injuries are the problem, naturally.
Alexander Isak endured an incredibly difficult debut campaign at Anfield where he struggled to find fitness before breaking his leg. It meant we never saw anything like the best of Liverpool's record signing and it's difficult to know what to expect in 2026/27.
A pre-season under his belt will surely help Isak enormously and perhaps fix all the problems. But it's still difficult to believe that Liverpool can entirely rely on him next season.
Which is a problem because Hugo Ekitike will miss around half the season at least. His achilles injury keeps him out long-term and, worryingly, we won't know what state he'll be in when he's back.

#Liverpool #isak #know #injuries

The 2026-27 Premier League season is just around the corner, and we know this to be the case because Liverpool are set to face Wrexham at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday — a timeless preseason ritual.
MORE — Preseason fixtures & results | Transfers completed
Liverpool are now under the leadership of Andoni Iraola, who just recently led Bournemouth to Europa League qualification before departing with a bigger job on his mind. Iraola replaces Arne Slot, who won the Premier League ***** le in his first season but was fired at the end of his second, in a transitional time for the club.
Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson have all left, leaving a bit of a leadership and experience void in a squad that will undoubtedly be younger and greener this year. Will Iraola be able to develop young talent at Liverpool, the way he did at Bournemouth, or will the demand for results now, now, now alter his approach?
Kick off time: 7:30 pm ET Wednesday, July 29
Venue: Yankee Stadium — New York City
How to watch: ESPN

#Liverpool #wednesday #preseason

Liverpool preseason schedule, results 2026: Dates, times, more to know about Andoni Iraola plans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
New manager Andoni Iraola will usher the Liverpool squad into the 2026/27 campaign as the Reds ramp up their preseason slate with a tour of the United States.
Following in the footsteps of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, also held across North America, Liverpool will visit Nashville, New York City, and Chicago as they look to build fitness and earn minutes ahead of what should be a long and testing season.
Some Reds players participated in the World Cup this summer and will need extra time to rest and recover, while others are ready to gear up for the start of the Premier League season.
The Sporting News brings you through a look at Liverpool's preseason as they get ready to play their first competitive match on August 23.

#sporting #andoni #World

Liverpool are still plotting big changes up top this summer.
We've seen Mohamed Salah move on - agreeing to rip up his £400k per week deal one year early.
That opens a gap at right wing - with Bradley Barcola the favoured candidate to arrive. The 2024/25 Premier League champions will still need to meet Paris Saint-Germain's asking price - currently set at £145m.
If that price doesn't come down we could see the Anfield side move on to other targets.
And now one intriguing opportunity has sprung up according to a report in Fichajes. Because Richard Hughes and Andoni Iraola are viewing Real Madrid's Endrick as a market opportunity as Los Blancos move closer to a deal for Yan Diomande.

#still #Liverpool #mohamed #salah

Liverpool's planning at centre-back has taken an uncomfortable turn after Joe Gomez suffered an injury in the pre-season friendly against Sunderland, a development that further narrows Andoni Iraola's options before the new season begins.
As reported by BBC Sport, Gomez went off after only eight minutes and was then absent from training in Chicago on Sunday. There is still no confirmed timescale on the issue, but the immediate picture is clear enough. Liverpool are short in a key area of the pitch, and that shortage is sharpening the focus on both recruitment planning and existing contingency measures.
Photo IMAGO
At present, Virgil van Dijk stands as the only fit senior centre-back available. For a side preparing for another demanding campaign, that is far from ideal. Van Dijk's status as captain and defensive leader remains central, but relying so heavily on one established figure at this stage of pre-season leaves little margin for error.
The problem has been compounded by the unavailability of summer arrivals Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni. Jacquet's issue is understood to be minor, yet the timing leaves Iraola with an undeniably thin group in central defence. It is the sort of situation clubs prefer to avoid in July and August, because even short absences can disrupt rhythm, partnerships and tactical work.

#season #centre #short

Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola (23) is reported to have reached an agreement in principle to join Liverpool, according to information from L'Équipe.
Having made it clear to his club's management that he does not wish to extend his contract – which runs until 2028 – with Les Rouge et Bleu, the French winger is said to have recently spoken with the Reds' new manager, Andoni Iraola, to discuss a potential move.
Although they are far from having reached an agreement on the terms of a transfer at this stage, Liverpool and PSG are indeed in talks to find common ground. The outcome of the deal could hinge on a fee in excess of €120m.
At 23, and after three successful years in the French capital, Barcola is now keen to take his career to the next level and establish himself as a potential first-team regular at a major European club. Often relegated to the role of 12th man in PSG's key fixtures in recent months, the Lyon-born player now seems determined to spread his wings, having reportedly identified Anfield as his preferred destination should a transfer go ahead.
GFFN | Léo Aschi

#french #reached #transfer

Liverpool's summer has reached the point where the shape of the squad starts to come into view, and the message from The Athletic is clear enough. The headline issue is at the top end of the pitch. Bradley Barcola is the one they want, the one they rate highest, and the one who would signal ambition at the beginning of Andoni Iraola's reign.
That matters, because this is not a normal reset. Liverpool are trying to recover direction after a turbulent campaign, move on from the post-Arne Slot fallout, and hand a new head coach the tools to build something that looks fast, aggressive and dangerous. There is no point dressing it up. They need quality, they need depth, and they need clarity.
According to the report, "Bradley Barcola remains Liverpool's top target as they look to recruit an elite replacement for Mohamed Salah." That line lands heavily because it frames the whole market for Liverpool. Replacing Salah is not a standard bit of squad maintenance. You do not replace years of goals, ******* ists, fear factor and reliability with a hopeful punt. You need a player with real pedigree, and Barcola clearly fits the bill in Liverpool's thinking.
There is a seriousness to this pursuit. The report states, "Signing the 23-year-old France international would represent a major statement of intent at the start of new head coach Andoni Iraola's reign, but agreeing a deal with Paris Saint-Germain won't be straightforward." That feels like the truth of it. Liverpool can identify the right player, they can make him a priority, but getting him away from Paris Saint-Germain is another matter entirely.
The wider market context in the same report explains why. PSG have set an eye-watering valuation and Liverpool are far from alone in coveting elite attacking talent this summer. Even so, if Liverpool are serious about refreshing the frontline properly, there is no use blinking at the hard part. You either pay for top-class potential and production or you settle for less and hope. Liverpool have done enough hoping over the years to know how risky that can be.

#barcola #bradley #saint

Bournemouth centre-back James Hill says that new manager Marco Rose is allowing him and his Cherries team-mates to dream.
Following the departure of former manager Andoni Iraola, Rose was brought in to fulfil the Spaniard's legacy, leading Bournemouth in their first European campaign - in addition to performing competitively in the Premier League following a sixth-placed finish.
Hill said Rose has made a strong start and praised his encouragement of a "family-first" approach as the defender awaits the birth of his first child.
"In terms of player management, he's been absolutely fantastic," Hill told club media. "He's spoken to everyone as individuals as well as the group. He's let us know his standards as well. If we ever drop below par he lets us know because he knows the level we can reach as a group."
Rose arrives at Vitality stadium with a wealth of experience in Europe, having managed in the Champions League and Europa League with former clubs.

#league

From the outside, Liverpool's failure to seal a move for Marc Guehi last summer looks even more interesting now.
They have a buyback clause with Jarell Quansah, who left for Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last July, but there are no current plans for Quansah to return.
Sources stress that if Liverpool bring in Bradley Barcola, who Paris St-Germain value in excess of £100m, then there will be limitations to what more they can do in the market.
Deals for Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz have cost a combined £94.5m.
Without any major outgoings from Andoni Iraola's squad, there is an understanding that this summer will not be like last summer, when a club record £450m was spent.

#quansah #bayer #sources

Robbie Fowler has implored Liverpool to address one of their biggest 'problems' of recent years and ensure that there's adequate squad depth at Anfield by the end of the current transfer window.
The Reds went big in the marketplace a year ago by investing almost £450m in new signings, with much of that figure offset by player sales in a summer of massive upheaval in L4.
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However, Andoni Iraola has inherited a squad shorn of several players through injuries of varying severity, although he'll gradually get his World Cup contingent back in the building over the next month.
Speaking from New York, where Liverpool play Wrexham in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday night, Fowler stressed the need for his former club to have sufficient competition for places so that every player is kept 'on their toes' and high standards are maintained on a daily basis.

#Liverpool #robbie #anfield #official

Liverpool and Sunderland face off at the Geodis Park on Saturday as Andoni Iraola prepares for the upcoming season.
Date: Saturday, 25th July
Kick-off: 11pm BST
Venue: GEODIS Park, Nashville
Last Meeting: Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool, 12th February 2026.

#geodis #park #andoni #kick

Jeremy Jacquet is currently getting to know his new Liverpool teammates, including one who the French defender humorously described as 'off his head'.
The 21-year-old officially completed his move from Rennes at the start of July, with the deal having been agreed five months previously, and has been training with Andoni Iraola's squad in the United States on their pre-season tour.
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He could make his first matchday appearance for the Reds tonight when they take on Sunderland in Nashville, and he's now had a good couple of weeks with many of his new teammates (other than those who've yet to come back from their World Cup involvement).
In an interview with liverpoolfc.com, Jacquet namechecked some of the players with whom he's spoken the most, including one whose charisma has been particularly striking.

#teammates

One prominent Liverpool reporter has dismissed the prospect of Stefan Bajcetic being considered as a makeshift right-back for the Reds in the upcoming campaign.
The Spanish midfielder made his long-awaited comeback to team training this week, having not played for the club since May 2024 and not made it onto the pitch at all last season due to persistent injury troubles.
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Arne Slot frequently played midfielders at right-back in 2025/26 whenever Conor Bradley and/or Jeremie Frimpong were ruled out injured, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo all deployed in that unfamiliar role.
However, in response to a reader's question for the Liverpool Echo as to whether Andoni Iraola might do the same with Bajcetic, Ian Doyle opined that such a scenario would be highly unlikely and that the 21-year-old could plausibly depart on loan again.

#Liverpool #back #spanish

It goes without saying that Liverpool's main goal this summer should be to try and win the Premier League.
Most people expected them to easily retain the ***** le last term but, since Arne Slot decided to completely change things, that was far from the case.
Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo's strengths weren't played to which led to the duo barely contributing to the Reds' attack and having some of their worst-ever seasons for the Anfield outfit.
And, now that Salah has left and Andoni Iraola is in charge, it feels like now is the best time for the new era of Liverpool to arise.
A club of the Reds' size deserves to be competing for ***** les every season and, if they're not, there's clearly something massively wrong.

#premier

Liverpool enter the 2026/27 season with one objective in mind: to return to the top of English football. After an underwhelming 2025/26 season that saw them finish fifth in the table, the club has responded with a new manager and other signings.
The arrival of Andoni Iraola has raised expectations from fans and stakeholders who believe his high-intensity style can help Liverpool compete for the ******* le. We're talking about one of the most exciting young managers in Europe who made an underdog like Bournemouth finish 6th last season.
Iraola in charge of Liverpool could mean great things because the club still has the budget, quality, winning mentality, and ambition to challenge for the ******* le. But they face fierce competition from other top teams, which begs the question, 'can Liverpool win the Premier League this season?'
Let's find out!
The fans were left disappointed when the club finished 5th, a position that fell short of expectations considering they started as one of the favorites.

#club #iraola

Liverpool's first pre-season outing of the summer was already going to carry curiosity, because a new head coach always brings questions, fresh ideas and a sense of reset. Yet Saturday's meeting with Sunderland now carries something far more important. As reported by BBC Sport, both clubs will honour Kevin Keegan with black armbands and a minute's applause before kick-off.
That feels fitting. Keegan belonged to an era when footballers seemed larger than life, full of energy, swagger and personality, and he left a mark on every club lucky enough to call him their own. He died this week at the age of 75, months after it was announced that he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. For many supporters, particularly those of a certain vintage, the news landed with real force.
At Liverpool, Keegan was central to one of the club's great periods of growth. Nearly 750 club appearances came across his wider career, but the six years on Merseyside remain a huge part of why he is remembered with such affection. Three league ****** les, the European Cup, two UEFA Cups and the FA Cup tell their own story. So do the Ballon d'Or wins in 1978 and 1979, achieved while he was with Hamburg, proof that his standing stretched well beyond English football.
He was a footballer who played with urgency and emotion, and those are qualities supporters always respond to. Trophies matter, of course, but connection matters too. Keegan had both.
This match also opens the Andoni Iraola chapter. After the collapse of last season and the end of Arne Slot's reign in May, Liverpool head into 2026-27 needing clarity and momentum. Iraola's first game arrives with notable absentees after Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate departed at the end of last term.

#keegan #head #always #club

Liverpool have managed to get two big deals over the line so far this summer.
Jeremy Jacquet’s signature was put in place back in winter but the move which takes him from Rennes to Anfield for £60m has now been completed.
Richard Hughes struck an opportunistic deal for Victor Munoz - who arrives on a £34m deal from Osasuna. Another player - Ifeanyi Ndukwe - has also been registered with the centre-back moving from Austria Vienna.
But Andoni Iraola’s side remain short on players in key positions. Right-back is shaping up to be an issue once again.
Conor Bradley is not expected to be fit anytime soon following a leg injury suffered in January and last season midfielders were asked to fill in.

#rennes

Liverpool’s pre-season work in Chicago moved on Thursday with a familiar theme, fitness, availability and who can actually help Andoni Iraola once the serious work begins.
There was a clear positive. Stefan Bajcetic was back on the grass with the squad as Liverpool continued preparations for Saturday’s summer friendly against Sunderland in Nashville. For a player whose career has been repeatedly stalled by injury, that matters.
Iraola also confirmed that Wataru Endo is close to stepping up his recovery. The Liverpool head coach said: “We have Stefan and Wataru that are close to training with the group. They will start in this during this tour, training not fully maybe but partially with the group.”
Bajcetic has not played a senior match for Liverpool since May 2024. That alone tells the story. He is still young, still talented and still trying to reclaim momentum that looked natural during his early breakthrough.

#bajcetic #work #group

© IMAGO - Andoni Iraola Richard Hughes Liverpool
Liverpool are facing contract uncertainty over several midfielders.
Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott are two such players - out of contract in 2027 and no closer to signing new deals. Either or both could be sold in the current transfer period in order to avoid losing them on a free.
In a similar boat is Curtis Jones. The 25-year-old is under contract only for another year. And if Liverpool don’t manage to tie him down to a new contract - or else sell him - he will be departing on a free transfer next summer.
It was initially expected that the England international would sign for Inter Milan. The Italian champions have been interested since January - when they had an initial attempt to sign the Scouser rejected.

#sign #imago

Andoni Iraola says he was in talks with other clubs before taking over as Liverpool manager.
The 44-year-old replaced Arne Slot as head coach this summer, after stepping down as Bournemouth manager following a three-year stay.
"It happened quite fast," he said. "Yes, it was true that I was talking with some clubs. It was the first or second week after the season ended when Liverpool contacted me, and it didn't take a lot [to say yes]."
Iraola's arrival was seen by Liverpool as a means of trying to deliver an attacking brand of football.
In his introductory news conference last week, he spoke about wanting to give fans "a team to be proud of".

#manager #year #week #slot

Stefan Bajcetic took to Instagram with a defiant message after he made his long-awaited return to Liverpool training on Thursday.
The 21-year-old hasn’t played for the Reds since May 2024 and didn’t get a single minute on the pitch last season due to persistent injury problems, but he now seems closer than ever to finally being involved on matchday again.
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The Spaniard has travelled with the LFC squad for their pre-season tour to the United States, and Andoni Iraola said earlier this week that the midfielder was ‘close to training with the group’.
On Thursday, Liverpool’s official website and social media channels posted images from the latest training session in Chicago, some of which showed Bajcetic being involved alongside his teammates on the grass, a significant step forward in his recovery.

#Liverpool

Liverpool still have a lot of work to do to make sure their team is ready to compete for silverware again.
Last season will be one that fans will want to quickly forget as they only just managed to scrape a Champions League finish.
But, now that they have Andoni Iraola at the helm, it already feels like they're taking a step in the right direction.
However, in order for them to get on the same level as their **** le rivals, some additions will need to be made to help bolster their ranks.
And, any sort of opportunity they get to do this should be taken, especially when a Champions League player could be available for transfer this summer.

#still

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#investors #nervous