Iraola Backs Liverpool Squad as New Premier League Season Begins

Andoni Iraola has expressed confidence in Liverpool's squad as he prepares for his first Premier League season in charge at Anfield. The Guardian reported on Friday that the head coach believes it would be a mistake to underestimate his team, even after a limited summer of recruitment and questions about the club's prospects.

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Iraola succeeded Arne Slot after Liverpool finished fifth last season, a sharp decline from the position they occupied at the start of that campaign. He has declined to set a specific target for his debut season, but said his assessment of the players already at the club has made him very confident about their quality. He also noted that the transfer market remains open and Liverpool still has time to strengthen.

The manager acknowledged that long-term injuries have contributed to a negative view of the squad. He said several important players are recovering from major surgery and that Liverpool knew their absences would affect the early part of the season. Iraola's immediate task is therefore to manage that period until those players are ready to return, while continuing to work with the group available to him.

The Guardian reported that Liverpool remains in the market for two wide forwards. Paris Saint-Germain players Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh and other unnamed options are on the club's shortlist. According to the report, Brighton rejected Liverpool's latest offer of £60 million for Minteh, leaving the situation unresolved as the deadline approaches.

Iraola also addressed Alexander Isak, who is set to return to Newcastle on Sunday for the first time since leaving the club last summer. The coach described the coming campaign as an important one for the striker and identified availability as the first requirement for improved performance. He highlighted Isak's ability both to link play and attack space, while saying the forward has made progress in Liverpool's pressing structure during preseason.

Liverpool has also completed one outgoing deal. The Guardian reported that midfielder Curtis Jones has joined Inter Milan for €30 million, with a further €5 million in potential add-ons and a 10 percent sell-on clause. The confirmed departure, continuing injury concerns and the search for wide players form the immediate backdrop to Iraola's public confidence as Liverpool begins its new campaign.