Liverpool have received some encouraging news on the injury front, with manager Andoni Iraola moving to ease concerns over Jeremie Frimpong after the full-back was substituted during a recent defeat to Leeds.
Speaking after the match, Iraola explained that Frimpong's withdrawal was a precautionary measure rather than a sign of a serious problem. "Jeremie [Frimpong] asked for the sub [but] I don't think it's an injury. It was just some overload and I hope he's not injured in that way," Iraola said. He added that he does not believe the club have added another name to their growing injury list, which currently includes Joe Gomez, Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni.
Despite the result against Leeds, there was a silver lining for Liverpool as several key players made their first appearances of the summer following extended breaks after last season's World Cup. Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch all featured for the first time in pre-season, having returned late due to their involvement in the tournament.
Iraola praised the trio's performances despite their lack of match fitness. "I think they did really good. They played their first 45 minutes," he said. He noted that Wirtz and Isak, who featured in the first half, had a slightly easier task than Gravenberch. "Obviously Florian and Alex, because they were playing in the first half, they had an easier game or a better game. Ryan, it was costly for him," the manager explained.
Not all of Liverpool's World Cup contingent are back in training, however. Alexis Mac Allister remains on an extended break and is not expected to return until after August 9, having gone all the way to the final with Argentina on July 19. Iraola indicated that Mac Allister would likely be given time to recover fully before returning to action, potentially in time for a fixture against Monaco. "I think deserved holidays for him; long season, long World Cup, played until the final, has played a lot of minutes. I hope he comes fully recovered and he enjoys also the break that he definitely has earned," Iraola said of the midfielder.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also preparing for the arrival of new signing Victor Munoz, who is set to join the squad for the first time after winning the World Cup with Spain. Iraola confirmed that Munoz had expressed a desire to report early rather than take his full allotted break, given the adjustment he faces at a new club. "We spoke to him and he wanted also to come a little bit earlier than the three weeks that they have the right to have, because obviously he is coming to a new club, he will need some time to adapt, to meet his teammates," Iraola said. "We will have him next week as soon as we arrive there, basically. It's good news."
Goalkeeper Alisson is also due to link up with the squad promptly, arriving only slightly later than teammates Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk did at the club's AXA training base. "He will be [there] since the first day that we arrive and will start training there in Liverpool," Iraola confirmed.
With several first-team players still working their way back to full fitness and new arrivals integrating into the squad, Liverpool's pre-season preparations continue to take shape ahead of the new campaign.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (Football).