Liverpool supporters are preparing for their first look at the team under new head coach Andoni Iraola. The Reds are scheduled to play Sunderland on Saturday in Nashville at 5pm local time, which is 11pm BST. This match against Regis Le Bris’ side will take place at Geodis Park, home to Major League Soccer club Nashville SC.
Both Liverpool and Sunderland players will wear black armbands, and a minute’s applause will be held before kick-off, following the recent passing of Kevin Keegan. The club’s pre-season tour in the USA includes further matches against Wrexham in New York and Leeds in Chicago next week.
Iraola’s coaching philosophy and staff
Andoni Iraola has expressed his commitment to developing a formidable team. He acknowledged the immediate pressure at Liverpool following Arne Slot’s departure. Iraola stated that his primary focus is on creating a team that is difficult to defeat, believing that success will follow if they achieve this vision.
He emphasised the importance of performance, noting that results are what truly matter to supporters. Former player Ian Rush commented on Iraola’s style, suggesting it aligns with Liverpool’s traditions and will resonate with fans who prefer an attacking and high-pressing game.
Iraola has brought several staff members with him from AFC Bournemouth to Liverpool. These include Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, who are now first-team coaches. Pablo de la Torre has been appointed assistant coach, and Tom Webber is the first-team tactical analyst.
Iraola highlighted the importance of these individuals, particularly Pablo de la Torre, whom he described as more than just a physical coach due to their long-standing working relationship. He also praised Elphick and Cooper for their understanding of English football culture and their contributions to the coaching staff, including their work with set-pieces.
Squad considerations and defensive concerns
The Liverpool squad in America comprises 32 players, with some travelling for individual rehabilitation. Key players like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Ryan Gravenberch are expected to join the squad during the second week of the training camp. Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz will be the final players to link up, while Cody Gakpo, Virgil Van Dijk, and Alisson will not travel.
There has been a positive and youthful atmosphere reported within the camp during the initial weeks of pre-season. Harvey Elliott has rejoined the squad, and Stefan Bajcetic has returned to team training, having last played for the club in 2024.
The absence of Mohamed Salah, whose departure was known since March, means the club is looking to strengthen its attacking options. Bradley Barcola is considered a likely target for a winger position. In the interim, 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha has been training to cover both flanks, offering an option on the right side in addition to his preferred left.
Young talents such as Kieran Morrison, 19, Will Wright, 18, and Josh Sonni-Lambie, 18, are also expected to feature more prominently. Additionally, 16-year-old Josh Abe, considered a promising young talent in English football, is one to watch.
Defensively, Iraola has acknowledged that the squad is “thin.” Captain Virgil van Dijk, who played every minute of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign last season and captained his country at the World Cup, is not on the pre-season tour and will report back to the AXA Training Centre next week.
In his absence, Joe Gomez is the most senior centre-back option in America and is expected to partner Jeremy Jacquet, who joined Liverpool from Rennes in a deal valued at £60m. Liverpool views the 21-year-old as capable of playing first-team football immediately. Another young centre-half, Geovanni Leoni, 19, is in the USA but is recovering from an ACL tear through individual training. Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 18, and Mor Talla Ndiaye, 18, who recently joined after a visa delay, are additional options.
Left-back is covered by both Milos Kerkez and Kostas Tsimikas. However, right-back is a concern, with Conor Bradley set to miss the initial months of the season due to a knee injury. Iraola is content with his goalkeeping options, with Giorgi Mamardashvili available in Alisson’s absence. Freddie Woodman signed a new deal on Thursday.
Source: bbc.co.uk
As NewsGB's Senior Football Correspondent, Jack Ferndale reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He covered north-east football for a regional daily. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Jack lives in Sunderland, where he watches lower-league football home and away. “The story is in the squad, not just the starting eleven.”
