Iraola Faces Squad Woes in First Liverpool Friendly

Andoni Iraola, the new head coach, is set to lead Liverpool in their first match under his guidance against Sunderland on July 25, 2026. The squad is notably depleted, with several players sidelined due to injuries. Hugo Ekitike is out with an Achilles issue, Conor Bradley has a knee problem, and Giovanni Leoni is recovering from an ACL injury, with none expected back soon.

Further complicating matters, Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic are participating in partial training but will be managed carefully. Additionally, several key players including Alisson, Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Alexander Isak, Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, and Victor Munoz have yet to rejoin the squad following their World Cup commitments.

Despite these challenges, Iraola has 31 players available for selection and is expected to field a strong starting XI. The predicted lineup includes Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal, with Jeremy Frimpong and Milos Kerkez at full-back, and Joe Gomez and Jeremy Jacquet in central defense. Trey Nyoni and Curtis Jones are anticipated in midfield, supported by Harvey Elliott as the No. 10, and Dominik Szoboszlai and Rio Ngumoha on the wings.

The most significant concern is the forward line, where no fit natural striker is available. Federico Chiesa is therefore expected to play in a central attacking role. This experimental lineup is typical of pre-season friendlies, offering Iraola an opportunity to assess his players and the team's structure.