New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has touched down at the AXA Training Centre, with most first-team players and staff set to return to Merseyside next week.
That timeline gives him just over a month with the squad before Liverpool’s Premier League opener away to Newcastle on 23 August.
The immediate plan includes introductions followed by individual player assessments before training intensifies. Iraola’s first press conference is slated for 13 July.
Expect an aggressive, front-foot style and some operational changes behind the scenes. Iraola will be supported by first-team coaches Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, who worked with him at Bournemouth. Early sessions are likely to feature heavy running, with Iraola actively involved on the pitch—often stepping in to oversee and referee small-sided games. A mic’d-up training video from his Bournemouth days captures his high-energy approach and insistence on sustained aggression.
A Bournemouth insider recently noted that Iraola prefers to lead the majority of sessions himself. He’ll be joined by trusted assistant Pablo de la Torre, a long-time colleague from Cyprus, Rayo Vallecano, and Bournemouth, who will be central to getting Liverpool physically primed for Iraola’s demanding style. De la Torre has praised Iraola’s game intelligence, composure, and knack for simplifying information so players can apply it consistently.
A new test for the duo will be balancing midweek Champions League fixtures alongside the Premier League schedule. De la Torre stresses that building a clear game model and identity players fully believe in is essential.
That need is pressing after last season, when Liverpool were widely viewed as lacking a clear identity; public criticism from Mohamed Salah and frequent boos at Anfield were among the factors preceding Arne Slot’s exit. Reigniting excitement at Anfield will be key, and the arrival of Victor Munoz—valued for his directness—suggests Iraola’s side is prepared to take more risks to unlock deep defenses.