# Faster, faster: Iraola in a rush to plug Liverpool gaps before Premier League starts

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/faster-faster-iraola-in-a-rush-to-plug-liverpool-gaps-before-premier-league-starts/
- Published: 2026-08-01T15:25:14+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-01T16:14:25+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/01/liverpool-premier-league-andoni-iraola-leeds
- Topics: Americas, Art, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Football, Sport, TV, World

## Key points

- Iraola faces an urgent pre-season injury crisis, particularly in defence.
- Liverpool have several senior players absent through holidays and injuries.
- Wirtz and Isak should feature against Leeds in Chicago.

## Summary

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is working urgently to prepare his side for the Premier League season, with the club’s pre-season programme disrupted by player absences and injuries. Defensive shortages are especially concerning, leaving Iraola needing both quick solutions in training and possible transfer-market cover before the campaign starts in three weeks.

Eight first-team players have been away on post-World Cup holidays and six others are injured, including centre-backs Jérémy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez. Liverpool face Leeds in Chicago on Sunday, when Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are expected to make their first pre-season appearances after the club’s combined £241m investment; Iraola plans to use Wirtz behind the striker to support Isak and/or Hugo Ekitiké.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.