Injury woes force Liverpool forward to miss US pre‑season tour

Liverpool have confirmed that a forward will miss the club’s pre‑season trip to the United States after sustaining another injury, leaving the 31‑man squad to travel without him while head coach Andoni Iraola balances the tour with ongoing rehabilitation work. The tour, scheduled in the USA, is intended to blend fitness, cohesion and early tactical work under the new manager.

The club announced a 31‑man roster for the pre‑season journey to the United States, with the travelling party based in Chicago. This squad will undertake a series of friendlies and training sessions across the country.

Andoni Iraola has repeatedly stressed that he wants bodies around him, wants cohesion, and wants the group together early. That includes players who are not yet fit enough to play but are fit enough to travel and continue their rehabilitation work.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Chicago contingent features several senior names still recovering, among them Giovanni Leoni, Jeremy Jacquet, Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic and Vitezslav Jaros.

The itinerary is about more than friendlies against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United; it is also about building habits, routines and a sense of collective purpose under a new head coach.

Liverpool are missing eight World Cup players at the start of the tour, which limits the work somewhat, but Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch are expected to link up before the Wrexham fixture.

Alisson Becker may yet feature later in the trip, while Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo will have a longer break. Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz are not due back until next month.

Academy prospects also feature: 16‑year‑old Josh Abe, along with Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Will Wright and Josh Sonni‑Lambie, are in the squad. Some will get minutes, some will gain experience, and one or two may force a conversation about their future roles.

The most concerning development is the setback to Jayden Danns. Iraola confirmed, “Probably the worst news when we arrived is that we have, I would say, five players injured. Even Danns, who couldn’t start with us because he got injured with the U21s.” Danns has endured a 2025‑26 season wrecked by hamstring trouble, including a frustrating loan spell at Sunderland, and his recent return to outdoor training was interrupted again.

Our view is that every summer brings excitement about the tour, young players and fresh ideas, yet injuries quickly dominate the narrative. The pressure is on Iraola to set standards early, and fans expect fewer recurring problems and fewer wasted weeks as the club seeks to build momentum before the season begins.