CHICAGO, USA - Thursday, July 30, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a press conference at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of the club's final pre-season friendly of their USA Tour, against Leeds United in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Thursday, July 30, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a press conference at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of the club's final pre-season friendly of their USA Tour, against Leeds United in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Andoni Iraola has explained why he hates the month of August, insisting it is a sentiment plenty of Premier League managers will share ahead of the new season.
Liverpool have less than three weeks before they face Newcastle on the opening day of the Premier League season, with both clubs to have new head coaches and distinctly different squads.
Iraola is still awaiting further movement in the transfer window, with a winger, midfielder, and defender just a few of the club’s needs, which contributes to his dislike of August.
“I particularly hate this month of August because you start the competition, you still don’t know if some of the players are going to leave, who is going to come, there is a lot of uncertainty,” he told reporters.
“It’s difficult to build a proper team with a lot of question marks, but it is what it is. It is the same for all the teams.
“It is the same every season, and I particularly enjoy when it’s the first of September: done, this is who we are and we build from here.
“But we have to deal with this month of August that I think a lot of the coaches, if not all, we don’t like it.”
Liverpool’s final squad still uncertain
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool continue to see Inter Milan push for Curtis Jones‘ signature, while Cody Gakpo is still linked to Tottenham. Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa‘s futures are also uncertain.
Iraola’s squad will only be locked after 11pm (BST) on September 1, when the summer transfer window closes, during which time Liverpool will have played two Premier League fixtures.
The club have plenty of work to do between now and then, but Iraola is realistic about how quickly the squad he inherited will adapt to his demands.
“Probably, but not because I am going to meet the players late, or we are going to sign the players later,” Iraola said after being asked about fans seeing the ‘team he wants’.
“Even having my team ready for pre-season when there is a change of manager, these things take some time.
“I would like to say on the first day we are going to be perfect, that we’re going to be in place, but probably it’s not going to be like this.
“We will have to do the adaptation as quickly as possible.”
Collage 3 diagonal (14)
Collage 3 diagonal (14)
Football – LFC Foundation Friendly – Chelsea FC Legends v Liverpool FC Legends
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 11, 2025: Liverpool's Jay Spearing celebrates after the LFC Foundation match between Chelsea FC Legends and Liverpool FC Legends at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)