Andoni Iraola and his Liverpool players landed in the United States and acclimated with a walk around Downtown Chicago on Monday evening. The Reds were greeted by fans during their stroll, but the scale of the club will likely be felt later this week when they fly to Nashville for their first friendly against Sunderland at GEODIS Park.
Upcoming Friendlies
That game will be followed by a highly publicised meeting with Championship side Wrexham, whose popularity has surged since Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny took them over in February 2021. After that match at Yankee Stadium on July 30, Liverpool finish their tour back in Chicago against Leeds United on August 2. It promises to be an action-packed couple of weeks on their fifth US tour in a decade.
Training and Media
Training sessions are the order of the day, with Iraola and his players using the Endeavour Health Performance Centre, where MLS side Chicago Fire train. No open training session is on the reporters' docket, meaning Iraola will whip his players into shape away from external media, with gruelling sessions planned while temperatures soar in Illinois. The new head coach will speak to the media at 3pm local time (9pm BST).
World Cup Contingent
One topic may be when his World Cup contingent reports for duty, including Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and the Dutch trio of Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo. All five exited the World Cup in the round of 32 on June 29 and 30. Since the club grants those at the tournament three weeks off, they could join for the second week of the tour. Iraola will offer further clarity.
Szoboszlai's New Contract
Dominik Szoboszlai will be keen to make an impression after signing a new contract tying him to the club until 2031. Talks began in October last year and accelerated last week after positive negotiations with sporting director Richard Hughes. Szoboszlai was one of the few whose level didn't dip last season, and talk of him being promoted into a leadership role has been floated. Iraola will have to name a vice captain to club skipper Van Dijk, and Szoboszlai could be a front runner.
Szoboszlai's agent, Matyas Esterhazy, told winwin.com: "I don't believe in talking about leadership roles because they evolve naturally. I don't believe in talking about it too much because a leader remains a leader even when you don't talk about it." He added: "We know that Liverpool's leadership is one of the best in the world, with Virgil van Dijk as captain, and that's the reality. Who will be deputy commander does not occupy much of our thinking."
Injured Players on Tour
Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike were included in the 31-man squad list, leading to speculation that their long-term injuries had improved significantly. However, it's understood the duo, alongside Stefan Bajcetic and Wataru Endo, will continue their respective rehabs on the tour. The feeling is that all four will benefit from being around the group rather than sessions alone at the AXA Training Centre.
