New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola was involved in the Reds U21s’ training session on Thursday, already making his presence felt.
Iraola joins Liverpool U21s training
Iraola is getting used to his new surroundings as Liverpool’s new head coach, with youngsters returning for pre-season at the start of this week.
It is still a while before the senior players are back in the fold, but Iraola watched the U21s train on Thursday alongside sporting director Richard Hughes.
The Spaniard was also in dialogue with U21s manager Rob Page, seemingly taking a genuine interest in the emerging talent at Liverpool.
Continuing pre-season preparations with @LFCAcademyX as Andoni Iraola watches on ?
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 9, 2026
Harvey Elliott and Jeremy Jacquet were among those taking part in the heat, with the former looking to prove he has a future with the Reds, and the latter arriving from Rennes.
It seems very different to Arne Slot, who rarely showed much interest in the academy, and Iraola will hopefully look to blood young players similarly to Jurgen Klopp.
LFC News: Press conference date & Gakpo to stay?
File photo dated 09/03/24 of Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who turned down his squadís request for an extra day off to focus on enhancing a record-breaking season. Issue date: Friday May 3, 2024.
• Iraola will hold his first press conference as Liverpool boss at the AXA Training Centre at 11am on Monday, July 13. Get it in the diary!
• Liverpool are still “planning for” life with Cody Gakpo next season, despite rumours linking him with a move to Tottenham
• A position change for Rio Ngumoha under Iraola at Liverpool has been “floated internally” after his first-team breakthrough in 2025/26
• Liverpool have been told they must pay their biggest-ever transfer fee for Bradley Barcola, with PSG wanting £127.8m for his signature. Too much?
When are Liverpool playing in pre-season?
Sam Millne has provided a detailed look at Liverpool’s pre-season schedule to get you in the mood for the coming weeks:
“Liverpool’s pre-season tour, for which they will be primarily based in Chicago, kicks off in Nashville with a match against Sunderland on July 25.
“That will be followed by a trip to New York to face Wrexham on July 30, before the Reds face Leeds in Chicago on August 2.
“The team then head back to Merseyside, where they will play against Monaco and Como 1907 at Anfield.
“Liverpool’s clash against the Ligue 1 side comes on August 9, while Cesc Fabregas’ Como visit the following Sunday, August 16.”
Football News: Salah’s Roma return & Arsenal make signing
Egypt's Mohamed Salah (10) celebrates his goal during second half World Cup Group G soccer action against New Zealand, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
• Liverpool legend Mo Salah is reportedly wanted by former club Roma this summer, with contact from the MLS also revealed (TIA)
• Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer from Leeds on a two-year deal, with the option to extend for a further 12 months
• Man United are believed to have agreed a £50million deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos (Sky Sports)
• It’s the first of the World Cup quarter-finals this evening, as France take on Morocco (9pm BST) in Massachusetts. Rumoured Liverpool targets Bradley Barcola and Ayyoub Bouaddi could both feature
Liverpool FC: On this day
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND: Saturday, May 15, 2004: Liverpool's Harry Kewell in action against Newcastle United during the final Premiership game of the season at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
On this day in 2003, Liverpool completed the signing of Harry Kewell from Leeds in a £5million deal.
The Australian was seen as the final piece of the jigsaw at the same time, solving the Reds’ left-sided woes, but he never hit the heights expected of him.
But there were still moments of quality thrown in, with 16 goals and assists apiece coming Kewell’s way in 139 appearances, including a great strike at home to Everton in front of the Kop.
He won the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup a year later, before departing for Galatasaray in 2008.