Photo: AFC Bournemouth / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has described the club's pre-season tour of the United States as highly productive, with the 2026-27 season now three weeks away.
The Reds conclude their stay in the States against Leeds United in Chicago on Sunday. Liverpool have so far beaten Sunderland 4-2 and Wrexham 1-0 during the tour.
"I think it has been really, really useful," Iraola said. "Obviously, you spend a lot of time with the players, with the staff, you get all the information you can. And I think there is also an evolution, it has to be. We start to understand each other better, what we need to do."
Iraola singled out the performances of Liverpool's younger players as the standout element of the trip. Most of the academy and under-21 contingent featured against Premier League-level opposition, with the head coach confirming some will remain with the first-team squad for the season.
"Some of them are going to return to the U21s, some of them will go on loan, and some of them will stay with us because I think we will need them during the season," Iraola said. "They've shown me that they have the level, they can give us quality minutes."
Iraola also spoke about the contribution of his backroom staff, including assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, who followed him from Bournemouth. He described the pair as particularly valuable for their understanding of English football culture and their ability to communicate with players.
"They are helping me a lot," Iraola said. "I think they are sometimes in more touch with the players than me because always with the manager there is a little bit of more distance."
Elphick, a Liverpool supporter, turned down approaches from Championship clubs this summer to join Iraola's staff at Anfield. "I tell him, he is living his dream," Iraola said of Elphick.
New goalkeeping coach Alejandro Rosalen was also discussed. Rosalen has previous experience at Fiorentina and Napoli, where he won the Serie A title. "He has loads of experience," Iraola said. "He brings good energy. I think he's going to be a good help for our 'keepers."