Andoni Iraola will take a look at his Liverpool players this summer, giving a clean slate to them all ahead of another important transition period heading into the new season
06:00, 22 Jun 2026
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Nikki Dyer - Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
For all that Liverpool has plenty of work to get through this summer, there are the bones of a good roster there for Andoni Iraola to inherit.
Yes, it lacks depth, but it is not short of quality. And for the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, there is clearly a big uptick in performance level right there ready to be unlocked.
Isak barely played last season, while Wirtz now has a year under his belt in the Premier League and knows exactly what to expect. Between them, the pair will form a large part of the post-Mohamed Salah plan.
There are others, though, who will benefit from the change of head coach and resulting reset, more than just being capable of stepping up because of an improvement in fitness or physique.
Cody Gakpo, for instance, offered a reminder of what he is capable of this weekend as he starred at the World Cup for the Netherlands, notching two goals and an assist against Sweden.
It appears to have been forgotten by many that Gakpo outscored Luis Diaz in Arne Slot's first season at the helm. Last year, his form dropped off a cliff, but the arrival of Victor Munoz could help reignite him.
While Gakpo was predictable last season, he does have quality and an eye for goal when he is confident.
Cody Gakpo celebrates with Liverpool teammate Ryan Gravenberch after scoring for the Netherlands at the World Cup.
Cody Gakpo celebrates with Liverpool teammate Ryan Gravenberch after scoring for the Netherlands at the World Cup.(Image: Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
"It’s a little bit different," Gakpo said when he was asked to explain how he is able to perform to such a high level in a Dutch shirt. "How I play here, where the coach wants me to be, the freedom that I have at the club," he added. "That’s it basically."
International teammate Ryan Gravenberch, who excelled as the number six for Liverpool in 2024/25 but then regressed after that, showed how effective he can be further forward for the Netherlands, impressing alongside Gakpo.
It remains to be seen exactly how Gravenberch is viewed by Iraola, and where the Spaniard believes he should be deployed, but having signed a new contract recently, he will be a big part of the plan moving forward.
Like Gakpo, though not to as substantial a degree, there was a drop-off in his performance levels in the second season under Slot, but there is a world-class player there to reignite again.
A slightly different case, Harvey Elliott is another who could be another benefit from a clean slate. The 23-year-old needs game time to be guaranteed next year after wasting 12 months at Aston Villa, but a change of coach could see his role viewed differently.
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"We've analyzed Liverpool a lot — possible weaknesses, the strengths — and I think we have a very good squad," Iraola said in his first interview after being appointed.
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"I think there is still work to do, like normally in every club in this moment of the season. But right now, for me the thing is to value especially the players that we have right now in the squad.
"For me, and I will tell them, [they] are all new signings. For me, you are all new signings and I think we have a lot of quality in our squad, and [I'm] really looking forward to working with them."
Iraola is spot on about the squad being good already. Though it didn't show it often last term, with a few new additions and a proper summer to get match fit, Liverpool — collectively and individually — is more than capable of proving him right.