Andoni Iraola is already putting the Liverpool players through their paces in preseason, drawing similarities to Jurgen Klopp's first full summer in charge as head coach
17:05, 22 Jul 2026
Milos Kerkez has discussed the intensity of Andoni Iraola's training session
Milos Kerkez has discussed the intensity of Andoni Iraola's training session(Image: 2026 Liverpool FC)
Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez has revealed how intense Andoni Iraola's training sessions have been during preseason, drawing comparisons to Jurgen Klopp's first summer in charge.
Iraola and the Liverpool roster have landed in Chicago to begin their preseason tour of the U.S., with stops in New York and Nashville scheduled before returning home. Iraola has confirmed the 31 players who will take part in the tour, allowing him to assess his options ahead of next season.
Several stars will begin the preseason back in Merseyside, after being granted an extended summer break due to the FIFA World Cup. The majority of the roster is in the U.S., though, and Kerkez has described the intensity after the very first Chicago session.
Kerkez was asked to reflect on the first session after landing in Chicago, and revealed that Iraola would put the Liverpool players through a double session the following day. Even the single training exercise was intense, according to Kerkez.
"Yeah, really good. I mean, a bit of jet lag, you know, from the long flight. Obviously, everyone was sleeping and heavy legs, but we got through it," he said.
"It was nice. Small spaces with the ball. Intense. So, a nice first day and then onto tomorrow to the double sessions."
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When asked about preseason as a whole, Kerkez added, "We have everything to be happy for a good and big preseason, so, like I said, a good session. Intense today and tomorrow, onto the doubles."
Kerkez only joined Liverpool last summer and spent last season under Arne Slot before he was relieved of his duties. Iraola has now taken charge, and his style of play has been compared to that of former Liverpool head coach Klopp; his training sessions may reflect that.
Former Liverpool star James Milner also witnessed the transition between Brendan Rodgers and Klopp when joining Liverpool, and noticed a clear shift in intensity. Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Milner revealed that some players couldn't handle the sessions, but those who could, improved.
James Milner revealed that players would throw up due to Jurgen Klopp's intense training
James Milner revealed that players would throw up due to Jurgen Klopp's intense training(Image: 2022 Liverpool FC)
"Bit by bit, this squad changed, developed, his ideas came through," Milner said. "You wouldn't believe training... One of the first international breaks, I was suspended or something for England, so I couldn't play, so I was at the club, and I think two of the boys threw up in one of the first sessions we did.
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"The tempo was just through the roof. It was ridiculous. It was all about intensity, next situation. You're playing with one ball here, and he'd kick another in, and he'd say, 'New ball,' and you all had to sprint to that one.
"The number of sessions... he always used to do a double after a day off in the early days... these aren't sessions where it's like coming out of a tinkle, it's like sprints. The amount of hamstrings we had that first season was unbelievable.
"You've gone from one (tempo) to another, and it took time to develop. Some players can't ever get there. I suppose it was, 'If you're here, this is how we do it.'"