Andoni Iraola has admitted the “worst news” since taking charge of Liverpool was discovering the extent of the club’s injury problems.
The Spaniard has been working with the majority of his squad for the first time this week at the AXA Training Centre after replacing Arne Slot as head coach last month.
With Liverpool’s eight World Cup participants still absent, the available players have undergone their usual pre-season fitness tests and returned to on-pitch training.
The Reds remain without long-term injury absentees Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni, who are all continuing their rehabilitation programmes.
Andoni Iraola also revealed that several other players have yet to resume full training as Liverpool step up preparations ahead of their pre-season tour of the United States, with the squad scheduled to fly to Chicago on Monday for a two-week, three-match trip.
“Probably the worst news when we arrived is that we have, I would say, five (senior) players injured,” said the Reds boss.
“Even (Jayden) Danns, who couldn’t start with us because he got injured with the under-21s. Obviously they are different injuries, three of them are long-term injuries, different phases.
“Then we have Stefan (Bajcetic) that is doing slowly, slowly better but is still not ready to train with us and waiting also for Wataru (Endo).”
Jayden Danns has been sidelined since suffering a setback in March during his comeback from a six-month hamstring lay-off.
Wataru Endo has not featured for Liverpool since February because of an ankle injury. Although he made a 45-minute appearance for Japan in a friendly in May, the issue ruled him out of the World Cup.
Stefan Bajcetic, meanwhile, missed the entire 2025-26 season after undergoing hamstring surgery in May 2025 and has made just two Liverpool appearances in the last three years.
Asked about the condition of his players on their return to the AXA Training Centre, Iraola said: “Nowadays players normally are very professional. They have things to do in the summer. They come normally in a good shape.
“Some of them are in a better shape, the other ones are still getting there, but we have our time, we have our weeks to prepare. I hope when it matters, we arrive ready.
“I was looking forward actually to starting the training properly. Because I have been here almost two weeks with the U21s, all the physical tests – but you want to start doing your thing. The boys are training properly, yes.”
Iraola added: “Yes, I think we need them to understand what we need, to implement what we want. We also have to learn a lot from them.
“We have to know very well the players, where they are more comfortable, what we need to reinforce more, what we need to change. The more we can spend time here on the pitch and working with the ball is going to be better for us.”
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