Andoni Iraola’s first pre-season as Liverpool manager finished with a 2-0 victory over Como, but the scoreboard papered over a pressing problem: several squad members remain long-term absentees, leaving the new manager light in some areas ahead of the Premier League kick-off.
Iraola selected what looked like his preferred starting XI for the final friendly and was able to hand a debut to new signing Jeremy Jacquet, who scored after recovering from a serious shoulder injury that limited his final season at Rennes. Jacquet’s appearance was notable because he had not featured during the earlier friendlies as the club managed his minutes.
Major absentees and what they mean for selection
But while Jacquet’s cameo offered some good news, the Reds still have significant problems to solve on the right flank and up front. Conor Bradley has been out since January after suffering a serious knee injury against Arsenal and underwent surgery. He has not featured in any of the summer friendlies, with Jeremie Frimpong and Calvin Ramsay both used at right-back in the Como match. The club have also moved in Ronald Araujo to provide cover in that area.
Up front, Hugo Ekitike — who scored 11 Premier League goals and three in the Champions League after joining last season — ruptured his Achilles in April and has not played since. Iraola made clear the striker is a longer-term absentee, saying it would still be “months” before the forward could return to the first-team fold.
Where Curtis Jones stands
Midfielder Curtis Jones was a curious omission from the Como squad. Reports linked him to a hip problem, while separate transfer speculation has persisted about a potential move abroad. Iraola appeared upbeat earlier in the week about Jones’ prospects of a quick return, but the player’s absence against Como drew attention given the squad’s thinner options.
- Conor Bradley: sidelined since January with a knee injury; no pre-season minutes so far.
- Hugo Ekitike: ruptured Achilles in April; still months away from a comeback, according to Iraola.
- Curtis Jones: absent from the Como friendly amid reports of a hip issue and transfer speculation.
“It would still be ‘months’ before [Ekitike] could return to the first-team fold,”
Those words from Iraola underline the scale of the problem: where the manager might have hoped to rotate personnel and manage minutes across a busy season, some picks are simply unavailable.
How the numbers stack up
The situation leaves Liverpool dependent on the fitness of summer signings and squad players who have appeared during pre-season. Jacquet’s goal provided a welcome boost, but squad depth remains a concern — particularly on the right and in attack — where the club have had to lean on recent additions.
| Player | Issue | Potential return |
|---|---|---|
| Conor Bradley | Serious knee injury (surgery) | Winter 2026 |
| Hugo Ekitike | Ruptured Achilles | Winter 2026 |
| Curtis Jones | Reported hip problem / transfer links | Unclear |
That timetable — with Bradley and Ekitike not expected back until winter — will shape Iraola’s options for at least the first half of the campaign. The manager and his coaching staff will need to plan around the players currently available, and consider whether further moves in the transfer window are required to plug gaps.
Locally, supporters will welcome Jacquet’s immediate contribution but will be wary that the squad still looks stretched. The decisions Iraola makes in the coming weeks — about rotation, recovery plans and possibly further signings — could define how competitive Liverpool are while the injured trio remain unavailable.
For now, the message from the new manager is clear: there are positives, but there is also patience required as long-term injuries are managed.
