Liverpool's first open training session under Andoni Iraola offered a useful public snapshot of where the squad stands ahead of Sunday’s final pre-season fixture against Leeds. The session came in Chicago at Chicago Fire's performance centre, with the club continuing its USA tour and moving into the last stretch of preparations before the trip ends.
The training ground picture also suggested that several recent talking points are settling down. The tension involving Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas, which followed footage from the end of Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Wrexham, appeared to have eased by Friday. Szoboszlai had already played down the issue on Thursday, saying the players were in the same boat when it came to wanting the best for the club and each other.
Players returning to training
There was also welcome news for Liverpool in terms of personnel. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch returned to training this week, giving Iraola more options as the team approaches the Leeds match in Chicago. That is especially useful with the squad still adjusting in the USA and with the manager looking to use these sessions to sharpen the group before the Premier League season begins.
The training session itself was also a reminder of the style Iraola wants from his team. He repeatedly used the phrases “play in possession” and “quicker, quicker,” which pointed to an emphasis on tempo and control during the work in Chicago. For a team still taking shape in pre-season, that message matters as much as the result on the pitch.
Captaincy and the bigger picture
Andy Robertson's departure has left a vice-captain vacancy, adding another layer to the Liverpool story in the USA. Those leadership questions sit alongside the football itself, and the club will hope the week ends with a clean step forward when they face Leeds on Sunday.
That match closes Liverpool's USA tour and provides one final chance to assess combinations, rhythm and readiness before the focus shifts toward the Premier League season. For more on the fixture, see Liverpool Vs Leeds Pre-season Friendly: Liverpool conclude USA trip against Leeds United in Chicago.
