CHICAGO: Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola admitted that his team still needs several new players to strengthen the squad ahead of the new English Premier League (EPL) season, following the loss of several key players and being plagued by injury problems.
So far, Liverpool have brought in Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz, but are also missing Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate, while Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are still sidelined due to injury.
Iraola, however, refused to specify the number of players that need to be brought in because the transfer window is still open, but admitted that the team must always be ready to take advantage of opportunities to acquire quality players.
“It is difficult to say how many players are needed when the transfer market is still open. We need to always be open to new options to increase the strength of the squad.
“There are some positions that clearly need additional players. For example, we definitely need to get a winger.
“At the same time, there are also several other positions that need to be evaluated based on the players available on the market, the cost of transfers and the ability of existing players. We also have several injured players and we believe in them, but the situation is not ideal,” he told reporters in Chicago.
The departures of Salah, Robertson and Konate also caused Liverpool to lose several experienced players who were previously the backbone of the team.
At the same time, the future of Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker at Anfield is also still a question mark, but Iraola hopes the player will remain with the club.
“Alisson is a very important player in helping the adaptation process of new and young players.
“We need players who can be a reference like Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Joe Gomez, who have been with the club for a long time. I am sure their experience will help the team a lot,” he said.
Liverpool begin their pre-season campaign against Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday, before facing Wrexham, Leeds United, AS Monaco and Como.
The Reds are scheduled to open the 2026-2027 EPL campaign with action at Newcastle United on August 23.