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With preseason now underway, Andoni Iraola is finally getting a chance to see his Liverpool players up front and in person, as the manager ramps up preparations for the new campaign.
With the Reds now in Chicago for their pre-season tour of America, there are several key players involved, but not a full roster of stars at the head coach's disposal. There are several members of the locker room not available, with the World Cup impacting when some players will return to action, due to the time off that they require after the season came to a close.
Injuries are also a factor for some stars, as Liverpool's medical department is dealing with the rehabilitation of those who are still recovering from injuries.
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So, with that said, here's a look at the latest Liverpool injury news and return dates for the roster.
Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike is set for a long spell out after suffering an Achilles injury, with the Liverpool striker continuing to build strength in his leg following the issue. The forward is in America with the rest of the pre-season team, but he is using it as an opportunity to rehabilitate, with a return still some way off.
What Iraola has said: "In terms of order, I think the closest one to returning is (Giovanni) Leoni. After will be Conor (Bradley) and Hugo. But especially the last two are still way off, we are talking about months, and still a lot of time out."
Expected return date: November/December 2026
Conor Bradley
Conor Bradley picked up a serious knee injury last season, which saw him miss the latter part of the campaign, and this may now impact the upcoming season. The right-back is believed to still have months left on his recovery, despite the lengthy stint out already, which may see him come back just before the turn of the new year.
Expected return date: November/December 2026
Giovanni Leoni
After making the move to Liverpool last summer, Giovanni Leoni was handed a major problem, suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury in his knee that kept him out for the season. After a long time on the sidelines, Leoni is finally close to making a return and could be available in the coming weeks, while caution is still being taken over his recovery.
Expected return date: August 2026
Wataru Endo
After an untimely injury, Wataru Endo was unfortunate to miss out on the World Cup with his nation, Japan, as he pulled out from the team heading to America. Instead, the midfielder put full focus into his recovery and is now close to making a return to full training after spending time doing some individual routines while in Chicago.
What Iraola has said: "We have Stefan (Bajcetic) and Wataru that are close to training with the group. They will start in this during this tour, training not fully maybe, but partially with the group."
Expected return date: July 2026
Stefan Bajcetic
The past few years have been an injury nightmare for Stefan Bajcetic, with the last 14 months of his career wiped out through hamstring surgery.
Now finally making his way back, the Spanish midfielder has been seen in individual training sessions in Chicago during preseason, with a return to the group expected in the coming days.
Expected return date: July 2026
Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak struggled through much of last season, with a lack of preseason, but this summer offers some hope that he can be ready in time for the new campaign. The striker featured for Sweden in the World Cup this summer, where the team was knocked out by France in the round of 32, allowing him to go on a break sooner than others. Having spent some time away, Iraola revealed that Isak is one of three players meeting up with the pre-season tour group in the second week.
What Iraola has said: "The three players that are going to join us are going to be [in the] second week fully with us... Individually, I talked with the three of them; they know the main things, but I am looking forward to having them here with the group and to go slowly, slowly with recovering bodies [to the squad]."
Expected return date: July 27, 2026
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz struggled to hit his full flow last season, with the new campaign offering a chance for the Liverpool star to hit the heights. The playmaker was among those involved in the World Cup, featuring for Germany, as the nation made a shock exit at the hands of Paraguay in the round of 32. Having also had a break, Wirtz is expected to join up with the team in Chicago in the second week of the pre-season tour.
Expected return date: July 27, 2026
Ryan Gravenberch
Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was a regular for the Netherlands during the World Cup, as he featured alongside his fellow Liverpool teammates in the core of the side. Unfortunately for the Dutch, a round of 32 exit also followed, this time to Morocco on penalties, bringing any hopes of winning the trophy to an end. Gravenberch is the third player expected to be available in the second week of the US tour, where he will start to ramp up his return to action.
Expected return date: July 27, 2026
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk played almost every minute of last season, as the Liverpool captain was relied upon more than ever during a testing campaign. Add to that a World Cup that went to the round of 32 stage with the Netherlands, and it was an exhausting campaign for the experienced defender. For that reason, Van Dijk won't return to pre-season at the same time as others who exited at the same stage in the United States, and will instead train in Liverpool before the team returns, making him available the following week.
What Iraola has said: "They will, in terms of dates of training, be very similar, but they will start training at the AXA in Liverpool. Because of different reasons, especially Virgil because he has been the player with most minutes in Europe I would say... they are going to start training basically in the same week as the others but instead of making them come here with the team, we considered that it was sensible with them to start the first week training with a small group or even with younger players that are at the AXA and join us when we [return]."
Expected return date: August 3, 2026
Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo is also being eased back into preseason training, following a testing few months both on and off the field for the Liverpool ace. The forward will return to training on Merseyside next week, before he is available for friendlies when the team returns from Chicago the following week.
Expected return date: August 3, 2026
Alisson Becker
Despite links with a potential exit, Alisson Becker looks set to stay at Liverpool this summer, as the experienced goalkeeper prepares for his ninth season with the Reds. The goalkeeper struggled through injury at times last campaign, but was back and available for Brazil as he took the team to the round of 16 stage. He, like Van Dijk and Gakpo, will return to training next week in Liverpool and won't meet up with the team in Chicago.
Expected return date: August 3, 2026
Victor Munoz
Liverpool moved quickly to sign Victor Munoz in the middle of the World Cup, beating rivals to his signature to secure a depth option for the team. The forward, who impressed at Osasuna, was part of the Spain roster that won the tournament this summer, taking them all the way to victory.
While Munoz didn't feature once for La Roja, the long campaign means he is set for a rest, and isn't expected to join back up with the team until some point in August, which could complicate his pre-season preparations.
What Iraola has said: "In the end, I think the most difficult situations logically will be Alexis (Mac Allister) and Victor because they played until the end of the tournament, so I think they deserve their holidays and some rest also. I hope they have time to at least train with us a little bit, but it is true that it will probably affect the beginning of the season a little bit."
Expected return date: August 2026
Alexis Mac Allister
Alexis Mac Allister struggled through most of last season, but the Liverpool star showed his best once again in an Argentina jersey over the summer. The midfielder played almost every game for his nation, as they went on to reach the final, but ultimately lost to Spain in New Jersey. Considering that his season has only just ended, Mac Allister is now set for a break, with his return not expected until sometime in August. Iraola suggested that it could impact his preparations for the new season, considering the amount of minutes he has played.
What Iraola has said: "We cannot only think in the short term and the first game against Newcastle; we have to also understand, especially in the case of Alexis, who played a lot of minutes during the season and a lot of minutes in the World Cup, that they deserve this rest."
Expected return date: August 2026
