Andoni Iraola has flagged a welcome lift for Liverpool going into Sunday’s double-header against Como.
The two sides meet twice on Sunday — first behind closed doors at the AXA Training Centre (11:30am kick-off), then in front of supporters at Anfield (6pm kick-off), with Liverpool tipped to put out a stronger side for the evening fixture.
Alexis Mac Allister was the final member of Liverpool’s World Cup contingent to return from his break, checking back in at the AXA Training Centre earlier in the week. His arrival, along with loan signing Ronald Araujo, has given the new head coach a fuller squad to work with.
Iraola Confirms Squad Lift Ahead Of Como Fixtures
Writing in his programme notes for the Sunday double-header, Iraola said he was pleased to have the Argentine back for the Como games, having missed every pre-season fixture until now.
Per liverpoolfc.com, Iraola noted that with Alexis Mac Allister having returned to the AXA Training Centre on Monday, Liverpool now have all of their players back after the World Cup, which he called hugely beneficial.
Nearly A Full Squad At Last
Iraola has dealt with a drawn-out, staggered return of his World Cup players throughout pre-season — Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak joined up during the U.S. tour, while Mac Allister only rejoined this week. That’s limited his chances to work closely with several key first-teamers ahead of the Premier League restart next weekend, not an easy situation to navigate in his opening months in charge.
Liverpool still won’t be at full strength for the Como games, missing long-term injury victims Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni, along with Joe Gomez following his knock against Sunderland three weeks back.
Even so, both Mac Allister’s return and Araujo’s arrival mark a timely boost, and there’s a chance fans could get their first look at Jeremy Jacquet too, should he be passed fit in time for Sunday.
While wins in both games would obviously be welcome, the priority is that everyone comes through unscathed, leaving Iraola without any fresh injury headaches ahead of the Premier League opener against Newcastle next weekend.
