Andoni Iraola has confirmed a significant boost for Liverpool ahead of their two friendly fixtures against Como on Sunday.
The two clubs will face each other twice tomorrow, firstly in a behind-closed-doors game at the AXA Training Centre (kick-off 11:30am) and then in front of fans at Anfield (kick-off 6pm), with the Reds expected to field a ‘stronger’ line-up for the latter fixture.
Alexis Mac Allister became the last of LFC’s World Cup contingent to return from his post-tournament holiday when he reported for duty at the AXA Training Centre earlier this week, and the arrival of Ronald Araujo on loan has also bolstered the squad available to the new head coach.
Iraola reveals Liverpool squad boost ahead of Como double header
In his programme notes ahead of the Sunday double header, Iraola expressed his delight at having the Argentine available for the games against Como, having missed all of Liverpool’s pre-season matches until now.
The Basque wrote (via liverpoolfc.com): ‘With Alexis Mac Allister having returned to the AXA Training Centre on Monday, we now have all of our players back after the World Cup, which is of course hugely beneficial.’
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Iraola finally has most of his squad available
Iraola has had to contend with a staggered return of Liverpool’s World Cup participants during pre-season, with the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak linking up with the squad during the U.S. tour and Mac Allister only returning to his club this week.
That has denied the head coach the chance to work extensively with some of his most prominent first-team players before the Premier League recommences next weekend, which isn’t the most ideal scenario for him in his first couple of months in the job.
The Reds won’t quite have a full squad against Como, as they’ll be without long-term injury absentees Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, in addition to Joe Gomez after the body blow he sustained against Sunderland three weeks ago.
However, both Mac Allister’s return to action and Araujo’s arrival have provided a timely boost, and Liverpool fans could potentially get a first glimpse of Jeremy Jacquet too if he wins his race against time to he available for tomorrow.
While obviously we’d love to see a pair of wins for the Reds on Sunday, the most important thing from these two games is that every player comes through unscathed and Iraola isn’t left with fresh selection problems for the Premier League opener against Newcastle next weekend.