Andoni Iraola confirms five key Liverpool stars will miss pre-season tour

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Liverpool players have reported for pre-season, with the tour of the United States of America now underway, but some will be returning much later than others or missing the tour altogether.Andoni Iraola has discussed when Liverpool stars will report for pre-season training(Image: (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has confirmed that five players will be missing the club's pre-season tour of America due to the World Cup, while three others will make their way to the States in the second week of the tour.It comes as the Reds have travelled to Chicago, which will be their base camp for the upcoming tour, before travelling for friendly matches against Sunderland, Wrexham, and Leeds.Iraola doesn't have the full roster of players at his disposal, even excluding those recovering from injury, with the FIFA World Cup impacting his preparation for the campaign.Some key stars saw the previous season drag into the summer due to the international tournament, meaning many have required a longer break to get back well-rested and ready to go again.Some of those players who were knocked out earlier in the competition will make a return in the coming week, with three stars poised to join up with the team on the tour.They are Ryan Gravenberch, Alexander Isak, and Florian Wirtz, as Iraola told the press on their return: "The three players (Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Ryan Gravenberch) will join us in the second week."We have decided now with some who have been left out now since the World Cup. I think the sooner we can start working with them, they can understand what we want, the better.

I have talked with them and they understand the main things."While they will seemingly be available for the later friendly matches, Iraola also confirmed that another three players won't be available due to their training load at Liverpool.The manager explained that the trio of Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Alisson Becker will start their pre-season back in Merseyside, rather than in America.Andoni Iraola and Liverpool have headed off a two-week tour of the United States(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)He continued: "In terms of days of training, they will start just at the AXA in Liverpool. Virgil has been the player with the most minutes in Europe I would say."They will start the same week as the others but instead of making them come here, it makes sense they start the first week at the AXA."While those three players will be available upon the return from America, there is an even longer delay for the duo of Victor Munoz and Alexis Mac Allister, who only recently saw their tournaments come to an end after reaching the World Cup final with Spain and Argentina respectively."The most difficult [for pre-season] will be Munoz and Mac Allister because of the World Cup," Iraola explained.

"I hope they have a holiday and can join us but we cannot just think about the Newcastle, they deserve this rest. All the others should be fine to arrive in perfect condition."It means that Liverpool will be without five key players for the tour, excluding those recovering from injuries, complicating the preparations for the new season.