While the World Cup is still going on, many Premier League clubs are already returning to pre-season training and friendly matches. The games are spread across the globe, from Hong Kong and New York to York and Bristol, with the league officially returning on 21 August.
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has arrived at the club's AXA Training Centre, with most of the first-team players and staff due to report back to Merseyside next week. That will give the Spaniard just over a month with his squad before Liverpool's first Premier League game, away at Newcastle on 23 August. His first press conference is scheduled for 13 July.
“Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola starts pre-season with intense training as Premier League clubs announce friendlies.”
Iraola will be joined by Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper – who were with him at Bournemouth – as his first-team coaches. Pablo de la Torre will join as an assistant coach, having worked with him previously in Cyprus, at Rayo Vallecano and at Bournemouth. The key focus will be playing a front-foot and aggressive style of football, and if their time at Bournemouth is anything to go by, there will be intense running in the early days. Iraola often referees in mini-training games, and a Bournemouth source told BBC Sport: "Andoni likes to take all of the sessions and be in the thick of it as opposed to leaving it to others."
De la Torre told Spanish publication AS: "[Iraola] is incredibly intelligent, leads by example, and has a rare emotional stability in such a visceral sport. From day one, you sense he's different – his ability to read the game and its needs is almost unique." New to both, however, will be the challenge of dealing with midweek Champions League matches alongside Premier League games. "The key is building a game model and team identity where players truly believe in the coach's idea," added De la Torre.
Elsewhere, Arsenal will face Real Betis at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on 5 August, while Chelsea take on Tottenham at the Accor Stadium in Sydney on 1 August. Aston Villa meet Bayern Munich at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on 7 August. Many clubs have also arranged behind-closed-doors friendlies, such as Brighton against Annecy and Strasbourg. The Community Shield, between Arsenal and Manchester City, will be played at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 16 August.
