Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has expressed a strong desire to keep midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and goalkeeper Alisson at the club amid ongoing injury problems affecting the squad [1, 2]. Mac Allister, 27, remains under contract until 2028 but has yet to begin talks on a renewal [1, 2]. Iraola praised the midfielder as "one of the best players at the club for the last few years" and noted his recent World Cup form has attracted interest from other clubs. "I want to keep my good players," Iraola said, emphasizing the club’s intention to hold on to key talent rather than lose it [1].
Alisson, 33, has one year remaining on his contract and has been linked with a move to Juventus [1, 2]. Iraola described the goalkeeper as an important and experienced leader in the dressing room, crucial for integrating new and young players. "Alisson is someone also in a changing room that has lost some references in terms of experience," Iraola said. "We need the references like Virgil, like Alisson, like Joe Gomez, players that have been here for a long time" [1].
Liverpool face notable defensive depth issues due to injuries and a thin squad, particularly at right-back and center-back [1, 3]. Conor Bradley has been sidelined with a serious knee injury since January and will miss the season start [1, 2, 3]. Iraola called Bradley "a solution we are trying to find" given his importance long term, but said the club is currently very thin defensively. Additionally, Hugo Ekitike, a striker, suffered an Achilles rupture in April and is unlikely to play for Liverpool this year [3]. Defender Giovanni Leoni, who ruptured his ACL last September, is still recovering but traveling with the team [3].
Despite these setbacks, there is some good news: midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Wataru Endo are close to resuming partial group training during preseason, according to Iraola, who said they will start training "not fully maybe, but partially with the group" on the current tour [3].
Liverpool’s preseason tour includes training in Chicago and friendly matches against Sunderland in Nashville on July 25, Wrexham in New York City on July 29, and Leeds United in Chicago on August 2 [2, 3]. Iraola held a news conference in Chicago at the tour’s start in early July to discuss these issues and the squad’s readiness [1, 2].
