Andoni Iraola faces the media on Tuesday ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday.
The fixture will mark Iraola’s first Champions League match as Liverpool head coach, having taken over from Arne Slot in the summer.
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The Spaniard is looking to build on the Reds’ first Premier League win of the season, a 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Friday that ended their opening run of two consecutive 2-2 draws. Alexander Isak scored both goals, with Cody Gakpo providing the assists.
Liverpool enter their European campaign with confidence boosted by that result, while Iraola faces questions over his plans for Atletico and the demands of managing in Europe for the first time.
The match also presents a significant test of the high-intensity approach he has introduced since taking charge this summer.
Atletico Madrid provide the opposition at Anfield as Liverpool begin their 2026-27 Champions League campaign.
The Spanish side reached the semi-finals of last season’s competition, losing to Arsenal, while Liverpool were eliminated in the quarter-finals 4-0 on aggregate by Paris Saint-Germain, who went on to retain the trophy with a penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the final.
With preparations ongoing, Iraola has reacted to Mac Allister contract comments.
The Argentine midfielder revealed there was a genuine possibility he could have left the club during the summer.
“There was a chance, of course,” Mac Allister said. “I received the news that the club wasn’t in a position to offer me a new contract, which made me sad.”
Iraola, however, said that the club will have time to address the situation.
“We all have responsibilities, contracts with a club. We haven’t been together a lot of time but he is very important and has played a lot of minutes very highly. We have time to talk about those contract situations.”
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