Liverpool’s Iraola discusses player returns and injury updates for US tour
Player returns for US pre-season
Andoni Iraola, Liverpool’s new head coach, has provided an update on the availability of several players for the second half of the club’s pre-season tour in the United States. Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Ryan Gravenberch are expected to join the squad during the US trip, following the friendly match against Sunderland at Nashville’s GEODIS Park. These players will link up with their teammates ahead of the second match of the tour, which is against Wrexham on 29 July.
Iraola indicated that while these three will join the main group, other players will have a staggered return. The club typically allows players three weeks off after international tournaments. However, the returns are being managed individually based on various factors.
Squad management and injury updates
Club captain Virgil van Dijk, along with Cody Gakpo and Alisson Becker, will remain in Merseyside for the duration of the US tour. Iraola explained that Van Dijk will receive additional recovery time due to the significant number of minutes he played over the past year, which totalled 5,841 before the World Cup. He featured for every minute of the Netherlands’ run to the last-32 stage. Both Gakpo and Alisson are set to return to club duties at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, rather than joining their teammates across the Atlantic.
Iraola noted that Gakpo’s situation also involves other reasons for his delayed return. He and Alisson will begin training in a small group or with younger players at the AXA Training Centre and will join the main squad upon their return from the US. The head coach emphasized the importance of pre-season for establishing foundations, especially when joining a new club, highlighting that every training session and friendly is crucial.
Regarding injured players, Iraola also gave an update on Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo, and Stefan Bajcetic. These players are part of the 31-man squad that travelled to the US to continue their rehabilitation. Ekitike, Bradley, and Leoni are dealing with significant injuries that have required months for recovery. Leoni is considered the closest to returning to action, while Bradley and Ekitike are still some months away from full fitness.
Endo and Bajcetic are closer to rejoining the group, with plans for them to start partial training during the US tour. Iraola stated that they might not train fully but will participate partially with the squad. The head coach plans to speak individually with the returning players to ensure they understand the team’s expectations.
World Cup finalists’ delayed returns
The 2026 World Cup concluded with Spain’s victory over Argentina. Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz, who were part of the finalist teams, will have extended breaks. Mac Allister and Munoz are not expected to report back to the AXA Training Centre until well into next month. FIFA rules stipulate that players should receive at least three weeks off after the World Cup final.
This means Mac Allister and Munoz are likely to miss most of the pre-season friendlies, potentially returning to training around 9 August and completing fitness tests the following day. Their first potential involvement could be the final pre-season friendly against Como at Anfield on 16 August.
Munoz, being new to the squad, will need time to integrate into the team and regain match fitness, despite not having played any minutes during the tournament. Mac Allister, on the other hand, played a significant role for Argentina, including covering a substantial distance in the semi-final against England. The staggered returns of players due to World Cup commitments will impact Iraola’s preparations for the upcoming season.
Alisson Becker could potentially return for the final match of the US tour against Leeds on 2 August.
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Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
