The Spaniard’s first preseason at the AXA could be vital in leading his squad to a successful season.
By Alex Ridout
The Andoni Iraola era at Anfield is already well underway, following his first press conference as Liverpool manager last Monday.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter Reds fans were able to get a glimpse into the ideas and thoughts of their new leader, they were also able to welcome some senior players back to the AXA Training Centre, as they returned from their respective summer holidays.
The club’s official social media accounts were flooded with pictures and videos of the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Milos Kerkez, Federico Chiesa, and many more making their early preseason work count.
The full list of senior players available for Liverpool’s preseason training is:
- Giorgi Mamardashvili
- Jérémy Jacquet
- Joe Gomez
- Milos Kerkez
- Harvey Elliott
- Dominik Szoboszlai
- Curtis Jones
- Rio Ngumoha
- Federico Chiesa
- Jeremie Frimpong
- Kostas Tsimikas
- Freddie Woodman
- Trey Nyoni
- James McConnell
- Ármin Pecsi
This list doesn’t include a large portion of the Reds’ youth, who have also returned to the AXA over the last week.
Due to none of these members of the squad playing at the World Cup, Iraola does have a fair amount of senior talent that he will be able to get a good look at through the early part of preseason, before the internationals who played in America, Canada and Mexico return.
The likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and anyone else who exited the tournament in the early knockout rounds will likely return for Liverpool’s first friendly at Anfield against Monaco on August 9th.
Embed from Getty ImagesFor new signing Victor Munoz, who has just reached the final with Spain, and Alexis Mac Allister, who at the time of writing faces England in the semi-final tonight, fans will have to wait to see them come into the fold, following the pair’s deep run into the World Cup.
But for the personnel already back, and those who will return in the next month, this preseason is absolutely vital in securing stability and positivity under the new leadership.
There are obviously some who need this to be a period full of progression and intensity more than others, with the likes of Harvey Elliot and Alexander Isak immediately springing to mind, after both had troubled 25/26 campaigns.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut for the squad in general, there needs to be a heavy focus on fitness, as many suggested that the struggling Liverpool squad of last season, under previous manager Arne Slot, didn’t look like they had the energy and stamina to beat a fair few teams in the Premier League.
The sight of players looking leggy was a common occurrence come the 70th minute of a large number of matches, which is something fans would not have been used to, due to the high intensity and press of Jurgen Klopp’s teams.
Embed from Getty ImagesStraight away in his opening press conference as Liverpool manager, Iraola emphasised the importance of pressuring opposition with high-intensity football, which is something the squad of last season seemingly lacked.
Some suggested that one of the reasons for the slow-paced passing was that the players’ fitness was at the level it needed to be, which was something Mohamed Salah hinted at in his bombshell of a social media post near the end of last season.
As someone who wants to play a certain way, the Spaniard and his staff will need to use this preseason as a way to look at the strengths and weaknesses of his players and build up a strong level of fitness ready for a tough and competitive season ahead.
Featured image of AXA Training Centre: Alex Ridout
Alex Ridout Sports Journalist 