Andoni Iraola’s reign as Liverpool head coach could hardly have begun in more encouraging fashion.
Andoni Iraola’s reign as Liverpool head coach could hardly have begun in more encouraging fashion, with a 4-2 victory over Sunderland in Nashville marking the opening fixture of the club’s summer tour of the United States.
Goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas turned around a half time deficit and offered the new manager plenty to build upon, even if he was quick to stress there remains work to do after a first competitive run out.
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Yet as pleasing as the performance was, some of the biggest names in Iraola’s squad were nowhere to be seen at GEODIS Park.
Several key men have been afforded extended breaks following international commitments, and their absence has left the head coach eager to integrate them as swiftly as possible now the tour is underway.
Speaking after the win, Iraola confirmed exactly when supporters can expect to see the returning contingent back on the grass.
“They are already there in Chicago,” the Spaniard revealed via LFCTV.
“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 improving slowly, slowly the things that today didn’t work.”
The trio in question are Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch, three players whose influence will be central to how Liverpool fare in the campaign ahead.
Wirtz has already touched down in Chicago to rejoin the group, and with Isak and Gravenberch also awaiting the squad, Iraola will soon have a far fuller complement of options at his disposal for the remainder of the tour.
The timing suits the manager well.
Liverpool still have two friendlies to come stateside, meeting Wrexham in New York on 30 July before facing Leeds in Chicago on 2 August.
Those fixtures offer an ideal platform to gradually build minutes into legs that have been idle, and Iraola’s measured language suggested he intends to manage the process carefully rather than rush anyone back too soon.
His caution is understandable given how the afternoon in Nashville also delivered a reminder of the fine margins involved in pre season.
Stand in captain Joe Gomez was forced off with an apparent muscle problem inside the opening ten minutes, adding to defensive concerns at a club already stretched at the back.
Against that backdrop, welcoming fit, refreshed attacking talent into the fold represents a timely lift.
For Iraola, the message was one of patience and steady progress.
He acknowledged heavy legs and a lack of freshness on day one, but with Isak, Wirtz and Gravenberch reporting for duty, the head coach now has the reinforcements needed to sharpen his side as the season draws nearer.
Hi, Flo! 👋 pic.twitter.com/GnkViWHZDt
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 26, 2026
Andoni Iraola