Iraola welcomes trio back to Liverpool squad ahead of Wrexham clash
Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Ryan Gravenberch arrive in Chicago following World Cup duties, with 45-minute appearances expected against Wrexham.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has received a significant boost to his squad options ahead of the club’s second pre-season fixture in the United States. The Basque coach confirmed that Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Ryan Gravenberch have arrived at the team’s training base in Chicago, rejoining the squad for the upcoming friendly against Wrexham in New York.
The three players recently completed their international commitments at the World Cup and have been granted time off before returning to club duties. Official images from Sunday’s training session at the Chicago base showed the Sweden, Germany, and Netherlands internationals undergoing drills, signalling their readiness to integrate into the pre-season programme.
The return of the trio follows Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Sunderland in their first American fixture on Saturday. That match was marred by an early injury to Joe Gomez, which left Iraola without any senior centre-backs available for selection. While the new arrivals do not directly address the defensive shortage, their presence provides the manager with additional options as he evaluates his squad depth.
Iraola indicated that the returning players are expected to feature in the midweek clash, with reports suggesting they may play approximately 45 minutes each. The fluid nature of pre-season substitutions allows the manager to assess a broader range of personnel, and these sessions are viewed as a critical step in acclimatising the players to his training methods and tactical requirements.
For Isak and Wirtz, who were signed for over £100 million each in the previous summer window, this period offers an opportunity to respond to criticism regarding their performance levels last season. Both players are expected to be central to Iraola’s plans for the upcoming campaign, with the manager keen to establish their roles within his strongest starting XI.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is the next senior player expected to join the squad after completing his World Cup duties. The pre-season tour continues in the United States before the team heads home, with Iraola’s first competitive match scheduled for next month away to Newcastle United.
