Five Liverpool players 'blocked' from returning for first day of pre-season under Andoni Iraola

Liverpool's pre-season is about to begin and Andoni Iraola will be without five of his biggest names on day one.

Liverpool’s squad report back to the AXA Training Centre on July 13 as Iraola begins his time as manager following Arne Slot's sacking at the end of last season.

Iraola has recently finalised his backroom staff, raiding former club Bournemouth to complete his trusted line-up.

Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper arrive as first-team coaches, Pablo de la Torre as assistant coach and Tom Webber as first-team tactical analyst.

The quartet were confirmed on July 2 and will oversee a three-game tour of the United States.

Liverpool face Sunderland in Nashville on July 25, Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York on July 29 and Leeds in Chicago on August 2.

Home friendlies against Monaco and Como follow before the season opener away at Newcastle on August 23.

However, Iraola will have to wait to get his full squad on the grass with five players confirmed to miss the start of pre-season following their participation in the World Cup.

Iraola is without his Dutch contingent of Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo after their last-32 elimination at the World Cup. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are the other two absentees.

FIFA regulation recommends a mandatory minimum 21-day break at the end of each season which would fall after their elimination from the World Cup.

FIFA and the global player unions agreed on the regulation in July 2025 alongside ‘at least 72 hours of rest between matches’.

It was stated by FIFA that the break should be managed individually by clubs depending on their match calendars, meaning clubs can go against it.

Liverpool typically stick to the three-week rest period, as per the Liverpool Echo, meaning the five players are expected to link up with their teammates during the United States tour.

Three Liverpool players remain at the World Cup. Alisson Becker is with Brazil, Alexis Mac Allister with Argentina and new signing Victor Munoz with Spain.

Liverpool’s travelling pre-season squad is expected to be completed with various youngsters who are hoping to catch the eye of the new boss including Will Wright, Kieran Morrison, Joshua Abe and Trey Nyoni.

Potential Liverpool pre-season squad:

Goalkeepers: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman, Armin Pecsi, Kornel Misciur, Harvey Davies.

Defenders: Joe Gomez, Jeremie Frimpong, Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Milos Kerkez, Kostas Tsimikas, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Amara Nallo, Wellity Lucky, Calvin Ramsay, Luke Chambers, Owen Beck.

Midfielders: Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Trey Nyoni, Stefan Bajcetic, James McConnell.

Forwards: Rio Ngumoha, Federico Chiesa, Will Wright, Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas, Keyrol Figueroa, Kieran Morrison, Kaide Gordon, Joshua Abe.