Iraola hopes Joe Gomez returns before the international break
Liverpool substitutes look on during the match between Liverpool and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, United States. (Photo by Richard Nichols/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola offered updates on his team for the trip to Portman Road to play Ipswich Town on Friday.
Liverpool are looking to take three points after successive 2-2 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in the last fortnight. The Reds will be wanting to call on the services of Bradley Barcola, who was officially acquired from Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the week.
But the frustrations from the summer window will also raise attention in other areas of the squad.
Thin options in central defence
A loan deal from Barcelona meant that Ronald Araujo joined Jeremy Jacquet as a defensive recruit during the offseason, but options are thin on the ground in central defence.
At fullback, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez continue to be points of fragility. The new head coach hopes that a veteran of the camp can soon start training to offer him more stability.
Injury list still lingering
Some of the personnel problems from the 2025/26 season still hang over the side. Giovanni Leoni is still on the mend after he suffered an ACL injury in late September last year, while Conor Bradley went down with a knee injury in January, and Hugo Ekitike sustained an Achilles injury in April.
‘Joe will probably start training with us next week’
“The closest one is [ Joe Gomez .] Joe will probably start training with us next week and it has gone normally, the recovery, from a muscle injury, more or less we were expecting the time on this. I hope we can have him before the break, let’s say.
“I think the next one probably should be Giovanni Leoni . I think the plan is also to start training during the break, with the group. I think even Federico Chiesa should be around those dates and probably Conor Bradley , and especially Hugo Ekitike , will go later, yes.”