**A new report has revealed how dire Liverpool’s squad depth is, with just weeks left for FSG to complete the necessary signings before the transfer deadline on 1 September.**
Liverpool have so far made just two new signings, with Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz yet to appear for the Reds during their pre-season campaign.
Jacquet’s load is being carefully managed after the Frenchman joined the club from Rennes for £60m this summer. The deal was agreed in January, but shortly thereafter, he suffered a serious shoulder injury, meaning he has not played a kick of competitive football since February.
He is training, however, and is expected back soon, but between his injury, Giovanni Leoni’s own injury rehabilitation taking time, Joe Gomez picking up yet another injury and Virgil van Dijk only just joining pre-season after his World Cup involvement with the Netherlands, Liverpool are looking extremely light in numbers at the moment.
Munoz will join the pre-season camp next week, but he will likely not be fully up to speed by the start of the new Premier League season, placing some early-tenure pressure on head coach Andoni Iraola.
And now, a new report has revealed just how short on numbers Liverpool have been at the start of Iraola’s first pre-season with the Reds.
Assistant coach Tommy Elphick has had to join pre-season training sessions to make up for shortage in players
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According to a new report from [Lewis Steel for the Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-16024309/Liverpool-tour-Andoni-Iraola-Elphick.html), Liverpool have had to get assistant coach Tommy Elphick involved in pre-season training sessions during the tour of the United States to acoomodate for the lack of players.
Steel writes: _“His coaching staff have helped him settle in, with English duo Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper well-liked by the group. When trying to eavesdrop on Iraola’s on-pitch instructions at training, it was amusing to instead hear Elphick’s south coast accent.”_
_“The former Brighton, Aston Villa and Bournemouth defender has even put on a bib and joined in training sessions to make up the numbers amid a crisis at centre-half. Elphick had offers to be a first-team manager in the Championship this season but opted to stick by Iraola as his No2.”_
> We've got assistant manager Tommy Elphick joining in training sessions because we're lacking centre-backs.
>
> The club is SEVERELY letting Iraola down.
>
> — – (@AnfieldRd96) [August 4, 2026](https://x.com/AnfieldRd96/status/2084570631392170334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Liverpool need to get into gear fast if they’re going to make the necessary signings
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I’m beginning to feel like a broken record, but with each passing day, the lack of transfer activity begins to inch towards crisis mode.
Liverpool release Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson on free transfers on 1 July but have so far completed just two signings.
While I can understand that last summer’s outlay of around £460m was never going to be replicated this year and the lack of transfer income from this summer’s free agent departures will have an impact on the money that can be spent, there is a severe lack of quality and depth in the squad right now that is beyond worrying.