Andoni Iraola has begun work as Liverpool head coach with two immediate priorities: judging the players already in the building and shaping a leadership group for the season ahead. Dominik Szoboszlai’s new five-year deal and his readiness to take on more responsibility make him a notable candidate for the vice-captaincy.
Iraola used his first media appearance at the AXA Training Centre to make clear that Liverpool still need additions, while the return of most of the first-team squad shifted the focus onto training-ground assessment. Players started with individual testing before moving into ball work, with Iraola and his staff closely involved in early sessions.
The vice-captain question looks especially important because several senior reference points have either left or are approaching contract deadlines. Virgil van Dijk remains captain, but Liverpool also have to plan for the next phase, and Alisson Becker’s contract situation means Szoboszlai’s long-term commitment carries extra weight.
The coming pre-season tour in the United States should give Iraola a broader view of his group, with senior players returning from World Cup duty and academy players also expected to be involved. For now, the first week suggests a manager focused less on spectacle and more on responsibility, fitness demands and deciding who can drive the next Liverpool cycle.
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