Liverpool’s preparations for the new season is currently underway.
Liverpool have arrived in the United States to begin their pre-season preparations ahead of three friendlies across three different states.
The Reds will use Chicago as their training base during their two-week US tour, with their first friendly against Sunderland taking place in Nashville on July 25.
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They will then face Wrexham in New York on July 29 before concluding the trip against Leeds United in Chicago on August 2.
The squad will use the camp to build fitness and adapt to new head coach Andoni Iraola’s methods. However, Liverpool’s eight World Cup players — Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Alisson, Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz – will miss most of the tour after being granted additional rest following their international commitments.
Gravenberch, Wirtz and Isak are expected to return ahead of the final two friendlies. Liverpool will also continue rehabilitation programmes for injured players during the trip, including Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley.
Kaide Gordon and Owen Beck remain unavailable as they recover, while Jayden Danns will be assessed after suffering hamstring discomfort last week.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Under-16 side have travelled to Japan for a double-header against a J-League select XI this week. According to Liverpool academy expert Lewis Bower, former Reds academy player Tom Clayton will take charge of Liverpool’s Under-16 side during their trip to Japan this week.
The 25-year-old, who is officially the team’s assistant coach, will temporarily step up as head coach for the double-header against a J-League select XI.
Clayton returned to Liverpool’s Academy in the summer of 2025 as Under-16 coach, working alongside Lewis Nightingale.
He was previously on Liverpool’s books from the age of seven until 21, featuring mainly as a central defender and midfielder.
During his time with the club, he captained both the Under-18s and Under-21s teams and helped the latter win the Lancashire Senior Cup under Barry Lewtas.
Clayton left Liverpool in 2022 to pursue a professional career in the Football League with Swindon Town. He became a popular figure at the club but injuries limited his playing opportunities before he returned to Merseyside in a coaching capacity.
Tom Clayton