**Andoni Iraola admits Liverpool will need new signings in two key areas.**
Iraola takes charge of his first pre-season friendly since being installed as head coach when his new squad face Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday.
But the Basque’s preparations have been hampered by the World Cup as well as departures and long-term injuries heading into his debut Anfield campaign.
The Reds are set to be in the market for Mohamed Salah’s successor at right wing while Iraola believes that defence is also an urgent area for upgrading.
Ibrahima Konate’s free transfer to Real Madrid and Giovanni Leoni’s recovery from an ACL injury means centre-back options are currently stretched.
Right-back Conor Bradley is also several months away from returning to action after suffering a knee injury during January’s draw with Arsenal.
“We definitely need to sign a winger,” said Iraola.
“It’s difficult to say a number \[of signings\] when the market is open.
“You always have to be open to new options to improve the squad. We analyse the market. It depends on a lot of things.”
He added: “I think it depends on the Conor situation.
“At the end, if you have a fully fit, happy, Conor Bradley we are very happy, ready to go and we would not be asking ourselves these questions.
“I think it’s a situation that’s tricky. In the long term, we know we want him to be our right-back but right now he’s still a little bit far from returning.
“So with the centre-back, right-back situation, in terms of defensive depth, we are very thin right now, so it’s a solution that we are trying to find.”