Harvey Elliott was involved but Federico Chiesa was among those still missing as Liverpool continued preparations to take on Nottingham Forest in the Premier League
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool continued to prepare for the visit of Nottingham Forest this weekend with a session in the Kirkby sunshine earlier. Andoni Iraola is still getting his ideas across, with some early teething problems emerging from the 2-2 with Newcastle a few days ago.
"It is so early in the season that if we start panicking regardless of what could have happened today then we won't be in a good place," Virgil van Dijk, the Reds skipper, said at St James' Park. "It is down to us to make sure we improve quickly, and that is what we try to do on the training ground. There were some good things, but also things that we have to improve."
This is what Liverpool.com spotted during today's training session as he and his teammates continued the process of doing just that.
Harvey Elliott involved
After missing out on the matchday squad for the weekend's trip to Newcastle, attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott was present here, as expected.
It seems logical that he would make a move elsewhere in this window if he isn't going to be a regular. Right now, though, Lewis Koumas, who impressed off the bench at St James' Park, is preferred.
Elliott has not made that much of an impression this summer and is seemingly (and understandably) lacking confidence. A move away, however, has not materialized yet.
Here, he was a full part of the training drills, but it would take some turnaround from here for him to come back into the reckoning on a regular basis.
Harvey Elliott
Harvey Elliott in action during Liverpool training
Federico Chiesa still missing
Another to sit out the visit to Newcastle, Federico Chiesa, who had a knock and missed training last week, was still not present. The Italian is another who is some way down the pecking order.
Chiesa made clear that he wanted to fight for a place in the Liverpool team under Iraola earlier in the summer, but he simply lacks the physical traits required to excel on the wing: he isn't quick enough.
In addition to Chiesa, also sidelined through injury at the moment are Giovanni Leoni, who is still on the ACL comeback trail, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Hugo Ekitike. Everyone else was present and correct.
Trey Nyoni dribbles with the ball during a Liverpool training session.
Trey Nyoni dribbles with the ball during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Super subs to come in?
Ahead of the weekend's visit of Nottingham Forest, Iraola has some decisions to make. There aren't really that many options for him to rotate, but Victor Munoz looked lively at Newcastle and won a late penalty.
He could bring Munoz in for Rio Ngumoha on the right, with Cody Gakpo staying on the left. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will need to show much more in their next few appearances, but it would be a surprise if either were dropped.
Alexis Mac Allister looked bright last weekend and Koumas was another to inject something fresh into proceedings. Munoz would appear to be the leading contender to come in for a start, as he looked to impress again here.
Victor Munoz
Victor Munoz made a strong impression at the weekend
Andoni Iraola progression
Over the course of the next few weeks — especially before the midweek games kick in — Iraola will have to make the most of every single session that he has with his players.
As the two goals conceded at Newcastle proved, there is much still to be worked on. Transfers are a necessity, but so too is more development on the training field.
Iraola was heavily involved in the training session, as he normally is, imprinting his methods on his players. From the other side of the September international break onwards, he won't have much time — for now, he has that luxury.