Liverpool have played their first two pre-season matches as they prepare for the 2026-27 season, their first under new head coach Andoni Iraola. Those two matches, though, have seen a squad heavy in youth and fringe players with many first team stars only now trickling back following the World Cup.
On Sunday when they take on Leeds in Chicago before flying home to England to complete their preparations for the coming campaign, there should be an opportunity to start to see how some of the established
stars fit in, with Alexander Isak, Ryan Gravenberch, and Florian Wirtz all expected to see action.
“With Flo especially, I think we need a very good version of Florian,” Iraola said when asked about his plans. “We know what he can give us; I think he’s suited to our game model. I see him more probably in the position behind the striker, though we know he plays with Germany on the left sometimes.
“But I think we’re going to start with him in that position behind the striker. He’s quite complete as a player. I think we are going to try to add more things to what he already has that is very good and I’ve seen his first days of training he is in a good place mentally and I hope he starts well and strong.”
One of the reasons Wirtz is being earmarked for the ten rather than being considered as a winger is that Iraola says he’s also looking to have his wingers be positionally versatile and just as capable of lining up on either flank—or of situationally swapping flanks during the course of any given match.
“Our wingers I normally try to encourage to have the ability to play both sides,” Iraola noted. “I know some of them are more comfortable on one side, but our team is not normally symmetrical so sometimes one winger has to do more defensive work, play higher, be more inside, be more outside.
“So if you can give me the option to put you both sides, it’s going to be easier for you to get minutes. Also, now in pre-season I have to see where they are more comfortable, but in my previous clubs most wingers play both sides. Then even during games we change a lot of times the sides of the winger.
“I would like now if we can have this versatility, for me it’s a big help. I think it’s also a great skill to have because in the end you become less predictable. I know most prefer one side, but maybe we want to exploit one match-up or can see a weakness for if you have the ability to play on both sides.”
