Pre-season was always going to be challenging for new head coach Andoni Iraola. Eager to impose his own ideas on his new Liverpool squad, the World Cup has led to a significantly disrupted pre-season schedule for the new manager. Thus, in the Reds’ two friendlies thus far, wins over Sunderland and Wrexham, the Spaniard has been padded out his team with youngsters.
However, the Liverpool squad is approaching a return to normality. Following their respective nations’ relatively early eliminations, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch and been in full training at the Reds’ training base Chicago Fire Endeavor Health Performance Center. This trio are all forecast to see some minutes against Leeds United at Soldier Field on Sunday, albeit most likely to come off the bench.
Meantime, Netherlands duo Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo have also returned to pre-season training this week, but have been excused from travelling back to the states, instead easing their way into action at AXA Training Centre. As Iraola noted himself, van Dijk played more minutes for club and country than anyone else in Europe last season (4,620), while Gakpo was sixth on this list (4,433), with only Donyell Malen, Bart Verbruggen, Elliot Anderson and Brahim Díaz in-between them.
This leaves three members of Liverpool’s World Cup contingent, all of whom are yet to return for pre-season training. Well, Iraola has now confirmed when each will be back with the rest of the squad.
Alisson
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group C – Scotland v Brazil – Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. – June 24, 2026 Brazil’s Alisson Becker celebrates after the match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Nathan Ray Seebeck | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters
Given Brazil’s early World Cup elimination, crashing out in the round of 16 for the first time since 1990, many were expecting Alisson to be back by now. The Seleção’s defeat against Norway in New Jersey occurred four weeks ago. Well, after four weeks off, Iraola confirmed that the goalkeeper will be present when the rest of the squad return to Merseyside on Monday:
“Yes, Alisson will be there from the first day. He was arriving to AXA Training Centre a little bit later than Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk. But he will be there since the first day that we arrive and will start training there in Liverpool.”
Andoni Iraola on Alisson
Now 33 years old, Iraola is right to carefully manage Alisson’s minutes. The Brazilian missed 21 matches last season due to a hamstring injury, hence why deputy Giorgi Mamardashvili featured more than anyone would have foreseen. Alisson does remain one of the very best goalkeepers in the world, so keeping him fit and available has to be a priority for Iraola.
Víctor Muñoz
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Final – Spain v Argentina – New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. – July 19, 2026 Spain’s Victor Munoz lifts the World Cup trophy alongside teammates as they celebrate winning the World Cup REUTERS/Dylan Martinez | REUTERS
Given Liverpool’s continued pursuit of Bradley Barcola, it is somewhat forgotten that they have already signed a new winger. It was Newcastle United who actually activated Víctor Muñoz’s €40 million release clause but, as always seems to be the case with the Magpies, they did not land their target, with the Spaniard choosing Liverpool instead.
Despite only debuting for Luis de la Fuente’s team in March, scoring against Serbia, Muñoz was included in Spain’s World Cup squad. Admittedly, he did not play a single minute in North America, but did not seem to mind too much when hoisting the World Cup trophy aloft with a winners’ medal round his neck. This lack of action means he won’t be fatigued, so could meet his new Liverpool team mates earlier than first expected:
“Yes, he comes next week. We spoke to him and he wanted also to come a little bit earlier than the three weeks that they have the right to have, because obviously he is coming to a new club, he will need some time to adapt, to meet his teammates. We will have him next week as soon as we arrive there, basically. It’s good news.”
Andoni Iraola on Víctor Muñoz
As Iraola alluded to there, Munõz is entitled to three weeks off; Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Monaco is exactly three weeks after the World Cup Final. However, Iraola has confirmed that his compatriot will return a few days early, so will be introduced to the Anfield crowd next weekend.
Alexis Mac Allister
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter Final – Argentina v Switzerland – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. – July 11, 2026 Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring their first goal IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Jay Biggerstaff | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters
The last of Liverpool’s World Cup representatives to return to Merseyside will be Alexis Mac Allister. He played almost every minute of Argentina’s eight match run to the World Cup Final, racking up 749 minutes, only sitting out the first hour of the dead-rubber win over Jordan. Thus, Iraola has decided to give the midfielder as much of an extended break as possible:
“Alexis will have, I think, until the Monaco game. I think deserved holidays for him; long season, long World Cup, played until the final, has played a lot of minutes. I hope he comes fully recovered and he enjoys also the break that he definitely has earned.”
Andoni Iraola on Alexis Mac Allister
The new head coach confirms that Mac Allister will have another week off, before returning the following Monday. He will therefore be available for the clash with Como, but will have to get up to speed very quickly, returning under two weeks before the Premier League opener on Tyneside.
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