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Liverpool FC## Liverpool have been boosted by the return of three World Cup stars to their pre-season training camp in Chicago, with Florian Wirtz, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexander Isak set to begin training
11:09, 26 Jul 2026
Andoni Iraola is getting some of his star men back in training
Andoni Iraola is getting some of his star men back in training(Image: 2026 Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos)
Florian Wirtz, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexander Isak have touched down at Liverpool's pre-season training base in Chicago, manager Andoni Iraola has revealed.
The three players were afforded more than three weeks' rest following their respective exploits at the World Cup, but are now set to link up with their teammates once again.
Liverpool jetted back to Chicago immediately after their 4-2 triumph over Sunderland at Nashville's GEODIS Park on Saturday, with Iraola disclosing that the high-profile trio would be on hand to greet the squad upon their arrival in Illinois.
"They are already there in Chicago," Iraola confirmed. "They are waiting for us. Alex, Flo and Ryan. They will start training from tomorrow with us and we still have two more games.
"I hope we use them properly and we go [forward] improving slowly, slowly the things that today didn't work."
Reflecting on the victory over the Black Cats, Iraola remarked: "I think it was different halves. Especially, they were a lot stronger in the first half. We kind of balanced both teams, and you could feel the difference.
"A lot of things to correct, obviously, it's the first day. You could feel the heavy legs, the players have been training. So, we lacked some freshness.
"But it will give us a good starting point to improve things."
Liverpool are due to face Championship outfit Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York on Thursday, before rounding off their tour in Chicago against Leeds United on August 2.
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The two teams also clashed on Saturday evening, with the Championship side emerging as 3-2 victors at Raymond James Stadium in Florida.
Liverpool lost Joe Gomez to injury after just seven minutes against Sunderland with Iraola now desperately short of options in central defense.
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He added: "I think it was different halves. Especially, they were a lot stronger in the first half. We kind of balanced both teams, and you could feel the difference. A lot of things to correct, obviously, it's the first day. You could feel the heavy legs, the players have been training. So, we lacked some freshness.
'But it will give us a good starting point to improve things. Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe [Gomez]. We were happy because we were kind of going through all the training without losing any player. Unluckily for us, straight away we've lost Joe."
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Andoni Iraola