Joe Gomez and Trey Nyoni have been speaking very positively ahead of the new season, with Andoni Iraola bringing a fresh energy to the training ground.
Not all of Liverpool’s players have enjoyed long breaks over the summer – the World Cup participants will have had the minimum three weeks off – but those who weren’t on international duty have had plenty of time to reflect and recover from a difficult campaign.
Joe Gomez, entering his 12th year as a Red, was among the first to return to training, doing so alongside the likes of Harvey Elliott, Jeremy Jacquet, Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez.
Asked about his first impressions of Iraola, Liverpool’s longest-serving player told the club’s official website: “Really, really good. He seems like a really nice guy.
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, December 9, 2025: Liverpool's Joe Gomez during the UEFA Champions League game between Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, December 9, 2025: Liverpool's Joe Gomez during the UEFA Champions League game between Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“It’s obviously massively impressive what he did at Bournemouth and how he got them to perform.
“I think we’re all looking forward to it and we’re all excited to have him. We’re all hungry and excited to go.”
It was also put to Gomez that the mood has been high in Kirkby, to which he replied: “Definitely. I think it’s a combination of a new gaffer and having such a good break.
“At the end of the day, we love what we do and we’re always going to be excited to come back and get ready.”
Gomez will be accompanied on Liverpool’s pre-season tour by the 19-year-old, Nyoni, who will hope to make his mark on Iraola as the club consider sending him on loan for more game time.
The young midfielder echoed Gomez’s comments about being refreshed for the season ahead, saying: “It’s exciting times ahead. It’s been good to be back and to see everyone again and I’m ready to go.
“There are still a few players away [due to the World Cup], so obviously there’s an opportunity to play [in the USA] and just show what I can do in that sense, but I’ll just go out there and just enjoy it and just try to do my best.”
Like Gomez, Nyoni has been impressed with the new manager.
“He’s very friendly, he’s very welcoming to everyone and I think he communicates quite well,” he said of Iraola.
“Managers will always have their different styles, it’s just about us adapting to it, but it is exciting.
“At the minute, I’m just focused on performing as well as I can in training and games, and just trying to enjoy my football as well.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 29, 2025: Liverpool's Trey Nyoni during the Football League Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 29, 2025: Liverpool's Trey Nyoni during the Football League Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I think that’s the most important thing, because if you enjoy your football then you’ll perform better.”
Enjoying their football was certainly not something the players were doing last season.
That can’t just be attributed to the ex-coach, Arne Slot – the players lost a friend and teammate in Diogo Jota last summer, which can’t be forgotten – but a fresh face with original ideas will no doubt help lift the team.
Salah, Ramy Abbas Issa collage
Salah, Ramy Abbas Issa collage
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Doha, Qatar. 27th Nov, 2025. Tomas Soares (L) of Portugal vies with Ifeanyi Arthur Ndukwe of Austria during the final match between Portugal and Austria at the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025 in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 27, 2025. Portugal won 1-0. Credit: Nikku/Xi
Doha, Qatar. 27th Nov, 2025. Tomas Soares (L) of Portugal vies with Ifeanyi Arthur Ndukwe of Austria during the final match between Portugal and Austria at the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025 in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 27, 2025. Portugal won 1-0. Credit: Nikku/Xi