Liverpool’s USA Tour Preparations
Liverpool has announced an initial 31-player squad for its pre-season tour of the USA. The team departed from John Lennon Airport on Monday afternoon, heading to their training base in Chicago. This tour marks the beginning of the new head coach Andoni Iraola’s tenure, as he prepares to introduce his playing style to the squad.
The tour will feature three matches across different states in North America over the next fortnight. Liverpool will face Sunderland, Wrexham, and Leeds United. Following these fixtures, the team is scheduled to return to Merseyside at the beginning of August.
A number of players will continue their injury rehabilitation programmes with the club’s medical team while on tour. Additionally, some senior players are expected to join the squad later, after fulfilling their World Cup commitments. Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz, for instance, are not anticipated to participate in any part of the tour due to their involvement in the World Cup finals.
The squad list for the USA tour includes:
- Gomez
- Endo
- Jacquet
- Kerkez
- Szoboszlai
- Bradley
- Chiesa
- Leoni
- Jones
- Elliott
- Tsimikas
- Ekitike
- Mamardashvili
- Woodman
- Frimpong
- Abe
- Nyoni
- Bajcetic
- Chambers
- Ramsay
- Scanlon
- McConnell
- Jaros
- Koumas
- Morrison
- Ngumoha
- W. Wright
- Hall
- Sonni-Lambie
- Ndukwe
- Davies
Key Players and Fixtures
The tour presents an important opportunity for several players to impress Andoni Iraola. Harvey Elliott, who spent a season on loan at Aston Villa, is expected to receive significant playing time across the frontline and potentially in the number 10 role. His current contract at Anfield is in its final 12 months.
Curtis Jones, also in a similar contract situation, will have ample opportunity to demonstrate his suitability for Iraola’s system, especially with the absence of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch at the start of the tour. Jeremie Frimpong will aim to overcome his recent form and the disappointment of missing the World Cup with Holland.
New signing Jeremy Jacquet, who arrived from Rennes, will look to build match fitness after recovering from shoulder surgery that sidelined him for the latter part of last season. He will also be aiming to stake a claim for a starting position alongside captain Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Joe Gomez is currently considered a strong contender to start at Newcastle United on August 23, particularly with Giovanni Leoni still recovering from an ACL injury.
The schedule for the pre-season matches is as follows:
- Saturday, July 25: Liverpool vs Sunderland in Nashville.
- Wednesday, July 29: Liverpool vs Wrexham in New York.
- Sunday, August 2: Liverpool vs Leeds United in Chicago.
These games will offer the first glimpse of Iraola’s preferred style of play, which is expected to be front-footed, urgent, and aggressive. The coach will hold a press conference on Tuesday in Chicago ahead of the fixtures.
Commercial and Fan Engagement
The tour is also significant for Liverpool’s commercial interests, given their existing sponsorship deals with U.S.-based brands and their expanding fanbase in the country. The club has commercial staff stationed in Boston and New York, and this tour aims to strengthen existing relationships and attract new business, capitalising on the excitement generated by the World Cup in the States.
Club legends such as Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Phil Thompson, and Tash Dowie will be part of the trip, attending various meet-and-greet events with sponsors and supporters. The LFC Foundation coaches will also conduct football clinics for local youngsters.
The tour will conclude with the squad flying back to Merseyside directly after the match against Leeds United on August 2.
Source: liverpoolfc.com