Full Breakdown
Andoni Iraola Begins Liverpool First-Team Training on July 13
7/6/2026, 2:21:39 PM
First Training Session
Liverpool FC will begin first-team training on Monday, 13 July, marking Andoni Iraola’s inaugural session as head coach. He succeeded Arne Slot after the latter’s dismissal at the end of May, following a campaign in which the defending 2025 Premier League champions lost 12 matches and finished fifth. The session starts a new regime ahead of the club’s U.S. pre-season tour.
Appointment Context
Iraola’s appointment follows Liverpool’s decision to replace Slot after a disappointing league finish. The club entered the 2025-26 season as reigning champions but fell to fifth, prompting the change. Iraola, formerly of Athletic Bilbao, inherits a squad that has just completed the 2022-23 FIFA World Cup, with several internationals still on duty.
July 13 Squad
Player availability will shape the training roster. Five Dutch internationals—Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak—remain at the World Cup and will miss the first session. Alisson Becker, Alexis Mac Allister and new signing Victor Munoz are also still at the tournament. Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni and Stefan Bajcetic have been training at the AXA Training Centre. New signing Jeremy Jacquet, confirmed on 1 July for £60 million from Rennes, joins from day one. Injured players expected for medical assessment are Hugo Ekitike (ruptured Achilles), Conor Bradley (season-ending injury) and Viteslav Jaros (ACL reconstruction). Youth prospects such as 15-year-old winger Joshua Abe, Hungarian pair Milos Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai, and Jeremie Frimpong (missed the Netherlands squad) will also be present. The provisional squad lists five goalkeepers (including Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman), twelve defenders (including Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong), six midfielders (including Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic) and nine forwards (including Federico Chiesa and Kaide Gordon).
Pre-Season Timeline
After the July 13 training start, Liverpool will embark on a three-city U.S. pre-season tour, facing Sunderland in Nashville, Wrexham in New York, and Leeds United in Chicago. The tour should begin in the second week of July, integrating returning internationals with the squad.
International Break Policy
Liverpool traditionally grants players three weeks off after major international tournaments. This policy allows the five Dutch internationals and other World Cup participants to enjoy a rest period before rejoining club duties later in July.
Squad Impact
The July 13 squad reveals Iraola’s initial player pool and depth for the upcoming season. The roster includes new signings, players returning from injury, and several youth prospects, expanding the range of experience and development available to the coaching staff.
Upcoming Steps
After the U.S. tour, Liverpool will return to England for friendlies and the start of the 2025-26 Premier League. Monitoring the integration of new arrivals and the fitness of returning internationals will be key to evaluating Iraola’s early progress.
