Andoni Iraola has outlined his plans for Liverpool’s pre-season campaign.
Iraola was confirmed as Arne Slot’s successor on Thursday after signing a two-year contract fresh from leaving Bournemouth at the end of last season.
The Basque coach will prepare for his maiden year in the Anfield hot seat with a tour of the United States at the end of July followed by two home friendlies.
Eight of Iraola’s inherited squad face a delayed start to life under their new boss due to their respective involvements in this summer’s World Cup.
However their absences are set the open the door for the Reds’ fringe players from the academy to have active involvements in the Stateside sojourn.
“We will have a chance to work especially with some of the young players, because a lot of senior players will be out and arriving later,” said Iraola.
“I think it gives us the chance to know better the players from the academy, some of the players who have been on loan.
“They will be an important part of the first part of pre-season, the American tour, and I think in that way it works very well for us.
“It will give us a lot of information before we make decisions before we start the season.”
He added: “The senior players who have played in the World Cup, they’ll have been feeling the pressure.
“They’ve been playing for their countries, I think they need and deserve a rest.
“Also this allows us to give those important minutes to train more closely with the young players who probably we don’t know as well.
“We’ve been here three seasons playing a lot of times against Liverpool and there are players we already know.
“But there are other players probably that haven’t had the minutes, have played for the development squad, have been on loan.
“Those training [sessions], those minutes, will be very valuable for those of us who make decisions.”