A new chapter has officially begun at Liverpool Football Club and at the AXA Training Centre for the 2026/27 season as Andoni Iraola takes the reins, injecting a much-needed sense of optimism after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign where the Reds finished fifth although secured Champions League football so now the squad prepares to wipe the slate clean.
On Tuesday ahead of the upcoming campaign. Fifteen fit senior players reported for duty, while five others are currently stuck in the treatment room.
The Basque manager will be desperate to get the footballs out as soon as possible. He brings a very specific, high-intensity tactical style, and with a squad needing a massive lift after the bitter disappointment of the 2025/26 season, every single minute on the grass counts.
On Tuesday ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 campaign. Fifteen fit senior players reported for duty, while five others are currently stuck in the treatment room. The sports science staff dominated week one with rigorous fitness testing and gym work, but the Basque manager will be desperate to get the footballs out as soon as possible.
He brings a very specific, high-intensity tactical style, and with a squad needing a massive lift after the bitter disappointment of the 2025/26 season, every single minute on the grass counts.
### Heading to the States for the 2026/27 build-up
The hard work moves from Kirkby across the Atlantic today as a 31-man squad boards a flight to Chicago for a crucial two-week tour. The Reds have three big friendlies lined up across America to prepare for the new season, giving the coaching staff their first real look at the squad in match action.
The team opens their American adventure against Sunderland on Saturday, July 25, at Nashville’s GEODIS Park. From there, it is a high-profile clash against Wrexham at the iconic Yankee Stadium in New York on Wednesday, July 29, before wrapping up the trip at Soldier Field in Chicago against Leeds United on Friday, August 2.
For transatlantic Kopites, it is a brilliant chance to see their heroes up close. Club legends like Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Phil Thompson, and Tash Dowie are also making the trip to take part in various fan events and meet-and-greets. Once the US tour wraps up, the traveling party will head back to Europe for final friendly matches against AS Monaco and Como before the Premier League season officially kicks off on the weekend of August 22.
The big frustration for the new management team is that this initial traveling group is missing a host of key players who are still away on holiday following their heavy summer World Cup commitments. Luckily, crucial reinforcements are scheduled to arrive soon to boost numbers.
German playmaker Florian Wirtz is expected back around July 21, while Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Sweden’s Alexander Isak are all due to report on July 22. Brazilian shot-stopper Alisson Becker will follow shortly after on July 27.
Gravenberch, Wirtz, and Isak are actually scheduled to fly straight out to the United States next weekend to link up with their teammates. While they will completely miss the opening match against Premier League side Sunderland, they should be integrated into the squad in time to play a part against Wrexham and Leeds United.
Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz won’t be back until next month after their respective countries made it all the way to the World Cup final and the Spaniard became a World Champion having beaten Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final.
Let’s be honest: the 2025/26 season was a disaster by the standards of this football club. This year is entirely about making amends, and that rings especially true for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. Both superstars arrived last year with massive £100m+ price tags, and both fell way short of expectations during a turbulent transition period.
With French forward Hugo Ekitike sidelined with an Achilles injury until the festive period, the goalscoring pressure is squarely on Isak to lead the line. The new manager needs the Swedish striker fit, sharp, and scoring from day one if the team is to mount a serious challenge.
With so many established stars still away resting or recovering, the coaching staff has picked a youthful, intriguing mix of first-team regulars, returning loanees, and highly-rated academy prospects for the flight to Chicago.
> We have named an initial 31-player squad for our tour of the USA ?
>
> — Liverpool FC (@LFC) [July 20, 2026](https://x.com/LFC/status/2079202415501619234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The selected goalkeepers making the trip are Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman, Vít?zslav Jaroš, and Harvey Davies.
The defensive options include Joe Gomez, Milos Kerkez, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Kostas Tsimikas, Jeremie Frimpong, Luke Chambers, Calvin Ramsay, Calum Scanlon, and Wellity Wright.
In midfield, the traveling contingent consists of Wataru Endo, Dominic Jacquet, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Trey Nyoni, Stefan Bajcetic, James McConnell, Amara Nallo, and Tyler Morton.
The attacking options feature Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike, Takumi Abe, Lewis Koumas, Rio Ngumoha, Ranel Young, and Keyrol Figueroa.
Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Hugo Ekitike are traveling with the group specifically to continue their specialist injury rehabilitation programs under the guidance of the medical staff, while teenage striker Jayden Danns stays behind on Merseyside to manage his fitness.