Hugo Ekitike update and new signings incoming: Five takeaways from Andoni Iraola’s first Liverpool press conference

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“The club is working on this.Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Liverpool fans are right to be worried after seeing the squad now arriving for pre-season training“I know the club is working hard to get those signings and I am trying obviously to help as well.”Liverpool clearly need more than they currently have, and confirmation that Iraola – and presumably those above him – are aware of that will be a relief to fans. But there’s going to be, especially in Hugo’s case, a period where we’ll be without them and we have to find solutions.”Though the long-term nature of Ekitike’s recovery has been known for some time, Liverpool fans will hope that both Leoni and Bradley will be available sooner rather than later.Iraola opens the door for Harvey ElliottOne point of interest as Iraola arrives has been how it will affect certain members of the Liverpool squad.

He will have a chance during the pre-season, we will need him. “It’s a good sign he’s been here one week earlier, he’s been training with the under 21s and I hope we can see him in a good place.

I think he uses the bad situation he has experienced to make him even more eager to be a Liverpool player. “Iraola highlights his difference to Arne SlotIf Iraola has been learning about some of the issues that Slot faced during his final year as Liverpool head coach, he has maybe would have seen that the Dutchman’s failure to really connect with the fanbase became a huge problem for him.Slot’s family lived in the Netherlands, and though this should in theory have given him some free time away from the job, he never made an effort to integrate himself into the city.Iraola seems keen to do things differently, confirming that he plans to visit the city when he can, in a comment which will put a smile on supporters’ faces.“I’m ready for it, I understand that this is a massive club,” the 44-year-old said.