Andoni Iraola issues Liverpool injury update as head coach explains 'worst news'

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is now working properly with his players on the training pitch at KirkbyAndoni Iraola admits the "worst news" on his arrival as new Liverpool head coach was the revelation of his squad's lengthy injury list.Iraola has been working with the majority of his players for the first time this week at the AXA Training Centre having replaced Arne Slot in the hotseat last month.The squad - still missing the eight-strong World Cup contingent - went through their usual pre-season tests and were working on the pitch during regular training sessions on Thursday.Liverpool remain without long-term injury absentees Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni, with all three following their respective rehabilitation programmes.And Iraola has revealed there are further players who have yet to join in with training with the Reds ready to ramp up their pre-season preparations by flying to Chicago on Monday to begin their two-week, three-game tour of the United States."Probably the worst news when we arrived is that we have, I would say, five (senior) players injured," said the Reds boss."Even (Jayden) Danns, who couldn't start with us because he got injured with the under-21s. They come normally in a good shape."Some of them are in a better shape, the other ones are still getting there, but we have our time, we have our weeks to prepare.

I hope when it matters, we arrive ready."I was looking forward actually to starting the training properly. The boys are training properly, yes."Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, Iraola added: "Yes, I think we need them to understand what we need, to implement what we want.

We also have to learn a lot from them."We have to know very well the players, where they are more comfortable, what we need to reinforce more, what we need to change. The more we can spend time here on the pitch and working with the ball is going to be better for us."