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Liverpool’s pre-season under Andoni Iraola is beginning to come into focus, with the Reds expected back at the AXA Training Centre around July 13.
Liverpool are preparing for a staggered return to pre-season because of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the current expectation is that Iraola’s squad will begin reporting back around July 13 ahead of the new campaign.
Meanwhile ahead of that, the club are finalising the backroom staff for the 2026/27 campaign.
Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper are expected to join as assistants, with analyst Tom Webber also in line to come in, while fitness coach Pablo de la Torre is set to arrive as a free agent after working with Iraola previously.
However, it seems Elphick was courted by Burnley but has decided on an Anfield move according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook:
“Understand Burnley made a play for Tommy Elphick. Deal to join Iraola at Liverpool too far down the line but has had a lot of interest this summer and will be a manager in the future,” the journalist reported.
Elphick made his name as the Bournemouth captain who helped drive the club from League One to the Premier League before returning in 2021 to begin his coaching career.
Since then, he has worked his way up to become one of Iraola’s assistants.
It then seems he has plenty of suitors but is intent on remaining with Iraola for now.
For Burnely, the disappointment continues after they failed to bring former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy to the club as their manager after talks with the Welsh manager broke down this week.
Understand Burnley made a play for Tommy Elphick. Deal to join Iraola at Liverpool too far down the line but has had a lot of interest this summer and will be a manager in the future.
— Alex Crook ⚽️🎙 (@alex_crook) June 26, 2026