Liverpool Prepares for Premier League Opener Under Andoni Iraola
Liverpool’s new era under Andoni Iraola moved up a gear at the AXA Training Centre, with a sharp-looking Ronald Araujo stepping straight into the action and several returning faces giving the Spaniard close to a full deck just 11 days out from the Premier League opener at St James’ Park.
Only two friendlies remain — both against Como at Anfield on Sunday — and they now look less like low-key warm-ups and more like vital dress rehearsals.
Araujo straight into the thick of it
Ronald Araujo didn’t ease his way in. The new Liverpool center-back, fresh from Barcelona and already battle-hardened by a full pre-season in Catalonia, was straight out on the grass with his new teammates.
He cut a composed figure in the session, still learning names and patterns, but clearly up to speed physically. The expectation around Kirkby is simple: he should pull on a Liverpool shirt for the first time in one of those Como games, likely next to Virgil van Dijk. From there, a starting place at Newcastle on the opening weekend is very much on the table.
He is new to the club, not to this level. That suits Iraola perfectly. Liverpool need him ready yesterday.
Defensive ranks slowly refill
There was another welcome sight at the back. Jeremy Jacquet, yet to feature in any pre-season minutes, stepped back into full work on the grass. Iraola had hinted last weekend that the French defender might make the Como double-header, and that remains the clear target.
Jacquet had been close to involvement on the US tour before a setback. Now, with the season closing in, his return offers a timely extra option in a position Liverpool cannot afford to leave thin.
Not everyone is there yet. Giovanni Leoni and Stefan Bajcetic watched on from the side, working on exercise bikes as the main group went through their drills. Both remain a few weeks away and will miss the final tune-ups, a reminder that Iraola’s “full squad” still has a couple of important asterisks.
Curtis Jones back in the mix
In midfield, there was another important comeback. Curtis Jones, who sat out the Anfield defeat to AS Monaco with a minor issue, trained fully and is in line to feature against Como.
His situation off the pitch remains a subplot. Inter Milan retain a strong interest, but have yet to put forward an offer Liverpool consider acceptable for the 25-year-old. Iraola has already been clear: he wants Jones to stay. The club’s reality is harsher — his contract runs out next summer and the clock is very much ticking.
For now, though, he is back in the middle of the pitch, part of Iraola’s plans as the new coach tries to imprint his ideas at speed.
Iraola’s tight window
Alexis Mac Allister’s return from his post-World Cup break means Iraola now has almost all of his key outfielders available, aside from the injured contingent. That gives the Spaniard something priceless before the season starts: full weeks on the training ground with the core of his team.
He will need them. Liverpool still have work to do in the transfer market, gaps to close and details to sharpen. So do most of their rivals. Manchester City have changed managers as well; uncertainty is not unique to Anfield this summer.
What Liverpool do have is a clear runway: Como twice, then Newcastle away to launch the 2026/27 campaign. After the first international break, the schedule will tighten and two games a week will become the norm.
These sessions at Kirkby, with Araujo bedding in, Jacquet edging back, Jones restored and Mac Allister finally involved, are Iraola’s best chance to shape what Liverpool will look like when the real stuff starts. The question now is whether these 11 days are enough to turn promise on the training pitch into points on Tyneside.
