At the Kirkby training complex, the squad spent the first couple of days completing the usual individual assessments before moving into ball work on Thursday and Friday.
Iraola has been very hands-on, frequently applauding good moments with a quick “bravo.” The pace and intensity are clear, especially in the training clips shared on Liverpool’s official channels.
He and his staff are logging long hours on site, with a strong focus on evaluating the current group.
The new head coach has told players he’s treating everyone like a fresh arrival. Harvey Elliott came back a week ahead of schedule, Curtis Jones is said to look like he’s had an outstanding summer, and Jeremy Jacquet—now wearing the number five—has settled well and recovered from his shoulder issue.
Overall, the group has returned in impressive shape, according to the medical team. Under Jurgen Klopp, endurance checks centered on lactate testing, while Arne Slot preferred a six-minute race.
Iraola’s approach differs again: players navigate diagonals and cones across the pitch to mimic repeated, high-intensity changes of direction.
As Joe Gomez remarked to Curtis Jones, it can feel deceptively tough—your legs can go quickly.
With eight World Cup players yet to report, the environment feels youthful. As one source put it, this is a real window for a new core to form before more senior figures rejoin.
“There will definitely be changes,” Iraola told Stan Sports. With several decorated veterans having departed, he said others will need to step up—on and off the pitch—rather than simply replace them.
Joining a club of Liverpool’s scale is a new experience for the 44-year-old, but there’s notable respect around the building for him and the job he did at Bournemouth.
If week one is any indication, he appears assured and at ease, even if he doesn’t command the spotlight the way a big personality like Klopp did.
Those close to him don’t expect him to deviate from his methods, and Iraola echoed that sentiment in his first press conference.
By Monday afternoon, Liverpool will head to Chicago to begin a pre-season tour that also includes stops in Nashville and New York.
That trip will be his first real opportunity to work with a larger squad: most remaining first-team players are set to join, and several academy talents—among them 15-year-old Josh Abe—will travel too.
Between the three scheduled friendlies, the plan includes double sessions in the summer heat. For Iraola and the team, the on-field temperature—and the expectations—will only rise from here.