Faster, faster: Iraola in a rush to plug Liverpool gaps before Premier League starts
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His first pre-season tour as Liverpool head coach ends at the city’s famous Soldier Field Stadium on Sunday, with a friendly against Leeds, and “faster, faster” could apply to all aspects of the club’s preparations for a new Premier League campaign that begins in three weeks’ time.Iraola was in his element as he immersed himself at the centre of every training drill that Liverpool performed at Chicago Fire’s Endeavor Health Performance Center, their base for the past two weeks in the US. Sprints were demanded following every rondo.There is an urgency to Iraola’s situation at Liverpool as he works towards his first season in charge, not only to his style of football.
Two 18-year-olds, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, have impressed in their absence but Liverpool are looking to loan out the latter next season having been unable to secure a work permit.Among the observers on Friday was Mike Gordon, the president of Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, who has returned to a more hands-on role at the club following the departure of Michael Edwards as FSG’s chief executive of football.Gordon is expected to be in attendance at Soldier Field on Sunday when Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak should feature for the first time in pre-season. FSG will not be the only ones at Liverpool looking for a return on their combined £241m investment in the pair.“We need a very good version of Florian,” Iraola admitted this week, when confirming he intends to play the Germany international “in that position behind the striker” rather than on the left, where he operated without reward at the World Cup, or in the variety of roles that Slot tried without success.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionFlorian Wirtz will be used behind the striker this season under Andoni Iraola for Liverpool.
He not only has to sustain that sharpness next season but convince he is a suitable fit for this Liverpool team.Iraola’s options and vision for Liverpool will improve as senior names return but he undoubtedly requires more help through the transfer market. Work is under way on a move for Bradley Barcola, who is open to leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Anfield, but a deal for a winger who the European champions value at £145m is yet to be struck.A lack of defensive cover cost Liverpool last season and remains a glaring issue, and there are doubts over the futures of Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott, among others.Liverpool’s head coach has admitted he “hates this month of August” because of the uncertainty that surrounds players while the season gets under way.