Photo: jikatu / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola says his squad are heading into the new Premier League season on the right track, with pre-season preparations nearing completion.
The Reds round off their summer friendlies with a double-header against Como 1907 on Sunday, the second of which kicks off at 6pm BST at Anfield. The fixtures are the fifth and sixth games in charge for Iraola, with Liverpool's Premier League opener away at Newcastle United now less than two weeks away.
"This will be a very good, and very important, test for us as we finalise our preparations for the new Premier League season," Iraola wrote in his matchday programme notes.
The Spaniard pointed to last weekend's friendly against Monaco as a source of both encouragement and lessons. "The first half, and the first 30 minutes in particular, was very pleasing. It was good to see Alexander Isak getting on the scoresheet and looking sharp, and I saw a lot of good things both with and without the ball," he said.
Iraola acknowledged that sustaining intensity across full matches remains a work in progress. "The problem we had, as we had against Leeds in Chicago, was that we were not able to sustain our levels and that is something that can only happen with time, and with a lot of hard work on the training ground."
Despite the challenges, the head coach expressed confidence in the squad's trajectory. "I believe that we are moving in the right direction and I expect that to continue in the coming days and weeks as the season gets under way."
With Alexis Mac Allister having returned to the AXA Training Centre on Monday following the World Cup, Liverpool now have a fully available squad for the first time this summer.
Liverpool also confirmed the addition of Uruguay international Ronald Araujo on Monday, with the defender joining on a season-long loan from FC Barcelona. "We are, of course, very pleased to have added a player of such quality and experience, and I am sure he will settle in quickly and have a positive impact on our squad," Iraola said.