Reds' Pre-Season Friendlies Sound Defensive Alarm; New Boss Iraola Under Pressure as Countdown Begins
During the training camp in Chicago, new Reds boss Andoni Iraola admitted to reporters traveling with the team that he is troubled by the difficult preparation situation. The 44-year-old coach stressed that he needs to determine each player's role as quickly as possible and refine the ideal lineup system, but with less than a month remaining before the Premier League opener against Newcastle United, the buffer time left for him is already very limited.
Over the past two weeks of the US tour, the team played three friendlies in Nashville, New York and Chicago, completing a comprehensive evaluation of the squad. The results were mixed — on the one hand, young midfielder Trey Nyoni and centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe firmly seized their opportunities with eye-catching performances; on the other hand, Iraola has begun implementing his world-renowned high-intensity training philosophy, even designing small-sided games with 'punishment consequences' to strengthen fitness. Full-back Milos Kerkez revealed that the training requires players to press intensely across the whole pitch, and after every session everyone is so exhausted that they collapse straight to the ground.
However, what troubles the coaching staff most is undoubtedly the injury crisis and the lack of squad depth. In the opening friendly against Sunderland, defender Joe Gomez suffered a muscle strain just eight minutes into the match and is expected to be sidelined for about a month. Captain Virgil van Dijk has yet to participate in team training after being granted extended leave; new centre-back Jeremie Jacquet, signed from Rennes for £60m this summer, felt discomfort in training and did not feature in any of the three friendlies. Giovanni Leoni, who previously arrived from Parma, is still undergoing rehabilitation treatment for an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee. Given that Ibrahima Konaté has already joined Real Madrid on a free transfer, the Reds' defensive line can only rely on three young players — Ndukwe, Mourtala Ndiaye and Luke Chambers — to provide emergency cover. The right flank is equally worrying: Conor Bradley has been battling a serious knee injury since January and is still 'months' away from returning; Jeremie Frimpong was frequently affected by muscle injuries last season, and although he performed well against Leeds United, he was substituted off in the second half for precautionary reasons.
Strengthening the attack is equally urgent. Throughout the summer transfer window, Liverpool have focused their main efforts on pursuing Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola. According to sources, the Reds are prepared to submit a first formal bid of around €115m, while PSG's valuation is in the region of €150m. If the deal goes through, Barcola would become the team's second major attacking signing after Victor Muñoz (who joined from Osasuna for €40m). However, Hugo Ekitiké, who suffered an Achilles injury in April, is not expected to return to action until early 2027 at the earliest, while Mohamed Salah has already left the club on a free transfer. In the narrow 1-0 win over Wrexham in New York, Iraola tried the highly talented Rio Ngumoha on the right wing, and the player himself said he would actively adapt to playing in multiple positions. In addition, the futures of Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott remain uncertain, with both having hinted at starting a new chapter in their careers during the tour.
The midfield is equally unsettled. In the warm-up match at Yankee Stadium, a public dispute broke out between Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas over the captain's armband. Although Iraola is inclined to keep Jones at the club, sources have revealed that Serie A champions Inter Milan have renewed their interest in the player, whose contract expires next summer. Meanwhile, Szoboszlai has shown leadership qualities and, following Andy Robertson's transfer to Tottenham, has become a strong contender for the vice-captaincy. Youngster Nyoni impressed across the three-match series and looks set to earn more consistent playing time in the new season.
The club's management is also undergoing a transition. Michael Edwards stepped down as football CEO at Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's parent company, last month, while sporting director Richard Hughes has been linked with a potential move to Saudi club Al Hilal. Fenway Group president Mike Gordon is expected to take on a more significant role in day-to-day affairs in the future. Additionally, an investment consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia has already expressed an intention to acquire a minority stake in the club.
The US tour was also disrupted by weather factors — with severe weather in New York before the match, flights were cancelled, and the club had to cancel the originally scheduled away kit launch, with legends Robbie Fowler and Ian Rush attending as representatives instead. In the interview, Iraola admitted that he prefers to remain composed, but must find the right balance between strictness and fairness. As the US trip draws to a close, the new manager and his players all know that the real challenge has only just begun.