Liverpool's New Era: Andoni Iraola's Strategic Preparations

Liverpool’s new era under Andoni Iraola is starting to take shape — and it’s happening quickly.

With just two friendlies left, both against Como at Anfield on Sunday, the AXA Training Centre felt busy, sharp, and a little bit tense. Eleven days from now, Liverpool walk out at St James’ Park to open the 2026/27 Premier League season against Newcastle. Iraola knows these sessions matter.

Araujo steps into the frame

All eyes naturally went to Ronald Araujo.

Liverpool’s new centre-back, fresh from his move from Barcelona, was straight into the thick of it. Having already gone through pre-season work with the Catalan club, he arrived with a clear edge in fitness and sharpness, and it showed in how he moved through the drills.

The plan is simple enough: Araujo should get his first unofficial minutes in red in one of the two games against Como, most likely alongside Virgil van Dijk. If that goes smoothly, a Premier League debut a week later is very much on the cards.

He is still learning faces, voices, and patterns, but this is no raw prospect. Araujo brings experience, presence, and the kind of authority that should allow him to settle quickly — exactly what Iraola needs with the season looming.

Defensive reinforcements stir

There was another welcome sight at the back.

Jeremy Jacquet, yet to feature in any pre-season fixture, took part in the main session on the grass. After Iraola hinted last weekend that the French defender could be involved against Como, this outing felt like a step towards that target. He had been close to returning during the US tour; now that comeback looks within reach.

Not everyone is there yet. Giovanni Leoni and Stefan Bajcetic watched on from exercise bikes at the side, still working their way back. Their absence underlined the reality that, while Iraola finally has a near-full group to work with, some pieces of the puzzle remain on hold and could be out for a few more weeks.

Curtis Jones back in the mix

In midfield, Curtis Jones rejoined the group after missing the Anfield defeat to AS Monaco with a minor issue. His return should put him in contention to face Como this weekend.

Off the pitch, his situation remains one to watch. Inter Milan retain an interest in the 25-year-old, but have yet to put forward an offer Liverpool consider acceptable. Iraola has already been clear: he wants Jones to stay. The complication is time. The midfielder’s contract runs out next summer, and every week that passes adds a little more pressure to the club’s decision-making.

For now, though, Jones is back on the grass, involved, and part of Iraola’s early plans.

Iraola’s window of opportunity

Alexis Mac Allister’s return from his post-World Cup break means Iraola is working with a near-complete squad, aside from the injured group. That gives the Spaniard something precious before the season’s chaos kicks in: full training weeks.

Liverpool still have business to do in the transfer market. So do most of their rivals. Even Manchester City have changed managers. Nobody looks the finished article yet.

That reality hands Iraola a narrow window. Once the first international break passes, Liverpool’s schedule ramps up to two games a week. The foundations he lays now — with Araujo bedding in, Jacquet edging back, Jones rejoining, and Mac Allister restored to the fold — will decide whether this new-look side hits the ground running or spends autumn playing catch-up.