The 13 first-team players likely to train on Andoni Iraola’s first day as Liverpool head coach
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Andoni Iraola has admitted that he is keen to take a look at some of Liverpool’s fringe players and less regular starters during the first days of pre-season.With the World Cup in full swing when the Reds return at the beginning of July, Iraola will be missing many of his best players as he starts life as the new Liverpool head coach.Nevertheless, after some were left out of squads or failed to qualify for the tournament at all, there will still be 13 senior players for Iraola to work with, along with a raft of hopeful youngsters. What should Iraola’s first job be as Liverpool boss? 🤔 Photo by Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images GoalkeepersLiverpool‘s goalkeeper department is once again under review heading into the new campaign, but there does at least look to have been some clarity on Alisson Becker staying put.Though he looks set to continue as No.
He will be Liverpool’s second senior goalkeeper present to welcome Iraola.READ MORE: Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott reacts to Andoni Iraola deciding to join LiverpoolPhoto by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesDefendersIf Liverpool’s goalkeeping group is up in the air, then the defence has even more of a question mark going into it for 2026/27.Despite that, Iraola will have the fortune of being able to work with what could be a potential full back four throughout pre-season.Jeremie Frimpong does not look like being Liverpool’s first-choice right-back under the Basque, but he will be determined to have a better season after missing out on the World Cup. As things stand they will be joined by Joe Gomez, although the long-serving defender could also leave before training gets back underway.Meanwhile, Iraola will also have his two senior left-back options in the building, with Milos Kerkez and the returning Kostas Tsimikas both likely to be present.MidfieldersOne of the biggest boosts for Iraola as he begins work will be having Dominik Szoboszlai to call upon immediately.Like Kerkez, the Hungarian was devastated to miss out on the World Cup, but the upshot is that he is perhaps the most senior of the Liverpool stars to be there for the new boss’ arrival.
What did you like about Andoni Iraola’s first interview as Liverpool head coach? Elsewhere, it will be fantastic to see Harvey Elliott back as he looks to start afresh under a new manager and revive a Liverpool career which had looked to be dead and buried.Trey Nyoni will likely be around as well, but we wouldn’t count him as a fully-fledged first-teamer just yet.AttackersLiverpool are set to add to their attack this summer, and it could be that Iraola can count on some new faces by the time he kicks things off for pre-season.For now, though, there are only two first-team forwards slated to be present on the 43-year-old’s first day.One is Federico Chiesa, who could well leave by the time July comes around, the other is Rio Ngumoha, who finds himself in the odd position of being Iraola’s best attacking option on the ground at the AXA Training Centre.With Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak at the World Cup and Hugo Ekitike injured, the Spaniard will get a glimpse into just how much work needs to be done in the attacking department.Along with these senior players, a number of youngsters will join the likes of Nyoni in the hope of impressing Iraola.