Liverpool will properly return for pre-season next week, with Harvey Elliott and Jeremy Jacquet among those in the building early as they look ahead to an important summer
04:00, 09 Jul 2026
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
With just 45 days to go until Andoni Iraola's tenure at Liverpool kicks off competitively with a trip to Newcastle, it should perhaps be no surprise that some stars are eager to hit the ground running.
"The senior players that have played in the World Cup, they've been feeling the pressure, they've been playing for their countries, and I think they need and deserve a rest," Iraola said when he arrived. "Also, this allows us to give also important minutes to train more closely with the young players that probably we don't know as well."
Changing coach in a World Cup year means that some players will report back later than normal, meeting Iraola further down the line. Those who are in from the off, though, with several already in the building even before pre-season starts, will hope to take advantage.
Prime among them is perhaps attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa. That move backfired spectacularly in the end, meaning his next decision will be vital.
Next season, Elliott cannot afford to make a mistake with his career. Whether he stays at Liverpool or goes elsewhere, he needs to be playing a regular role.
Under Iraola, it is possible that Elliott could provide cover for Florian Wirtz as Liverpool's number 10, but his lack of speed could limit his chances on the right-hand side, even though there is a space to fill there on the Liverpool roster with Mohamed Salah gone.
Getting in the building early, though, will offer the best chance to make a positive impression.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during a training session.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during a training session.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Stefan Bajcetic has been held back for different reasons. The young midfielder has been injured for the best part of a couple of years, but his quality has already shone through. If the Spaniard can get back to full fitness again, he can be an asset.
And with Ibrahima Konate gone, new center-back signing Jeremy Jacquet will need to step up quickly. He and Giovanni Leoni, another star of the future, were both present at the AXA on Tuesday too.
Jacquet, an $83 million (£60 million) arrival from Rennes, is now recovered from the shoulder injury that saw his final season in France cut short, and he will have a full summer to prepare for his next challenge.
Leoni, meanwhile, has been out since last September with an ACL injury. Though he is only 19, the Italian is very well regarded and should get plenty of chances to shine in the coming months.
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Those who are already back and working with Iraola this week will be joined by others in just a few days. The likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, who missed out on the World Cup, will return to the group.
Those who were — or still are — on international duty will get extra leave to rest and recover before rejoining their club teammates at some point in the next month or so.
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Several — Jones, for instance, who has transfer interest — have decisions to make on their futures, but getting back in early should be an advantage with the change of head coach.
If any truly grasp the chance they have to make an impression, they could quickly find themselves higher up the pecking order when the new season kicks off, with Iraola's arrival offering the chance for a clean slate.