Liverpool’s pre-season preparations are already underway, with new head coach Andoni Iraola welcoming a number of players back to the AXA Training Centre ahead of the official start next week.
Harvey Elliott, Stefan Bajcetic, Jeremy Jacquet and James McConnell were all spotted training on Tuesday.
Wataru Endo also returned as he continues his recovery from the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, while Giovanni Leoni is stepping up his rehabilitation from the ACL injury he suffered last September.
Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley are also progressing in their recoveries from long-term injuries.
The next group of players expected to report includes Dominik Szoboszlai, Milos Kerkez, Federico Chiesa and Curtis Jones, all of whom enjoyed a full summer break after missing the World Cup. Chiesa and Jones are both facing uncertainty over their long-term futures.
Players involved in the World Cup, including Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo and Alisson Becker, will return later following an extended break.
Alexis Mac Allister and new signing Victor Munoz remain in the tournament, although the latter has yet to feature for Spain due to injury.
Liverpool will begin their pre-season schedule against Sunderland in Nashville, before facing Wrexham and Leeds United in the United States.
After returning to England, the Reds will host Como and AS Monaco at Anfield before opening the new Premier League season away to Newcastle United.
“The senior players that have played in the World Cup, they’ve been feeling the pressure, they’ve been playing for their countries, and I think they need and deserve a rest,” Andoni Iraola said when he arrived at Liverpool.
“And also this allows us to give also important minutes to train more closely with the young players that probably we don’t know as well.
“Because we’ve been here already three seasons, playing a lot of times against Liverpool, and there are players that we already know.
“But there are other players probably that haven’t had the minutes, have played for the development squad, have been on loan somewhere, and I think those trainings, those minutes will be very valuable for us to take decisions.”
Read more: Four days to go: Black Stars trio set to headline ASF26 game at UG Sports stadium
Xavi Valero steps down as Liverpool’s head of first-team goalkeeper coaching
