US tour opens door for Liverpool academy talents under Iraola

Liverpool’s upcoming US pre‑season tour is shaping up as a decisive checkpoint for academy talents under new head coach Andoni Iraola, with the squad opening a door for several young Reds to travel to Chicago on Monday after senior players are unavailable.

The timing matters because some first‑team members remain unavailable after summer international commitments, leaving space in the travelling party for emerging talent.

For those on the fringes, the trip is more than a routine pre‑season exercise; it offers a chance to work closely with the new coach, train at senior intensity and demonstrate their standing in the next phase of Liverpool’s squad planning.

Among the standout names is Josh Abe, a 16‑year‑old winger who impressed at under‑18 level last season. Liverpool have moved quickly to secure his future amid interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, and after recovering from a knee injury that ended his campaign in March, he appears poised to join the US tour group.

Centre‑backs Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye, together with midfielder Tommy Pilling, have also featured in sessions under Iraola. Ndukwe has just arrived from Austria Vienna, while Ndiaye already caught a glimpse of the senior environment late last season.

Returning players add further depth: James McConnell is back after a shoulder issue at Ajax, Lewis Koumas returns from spells at Birmingham City and Hull City, Calum Scanlon is back from League One with Cardiff City, and right‑back Calvin Ramsay seeks to rebuild senior opportunities.

In attack, Kieran Morrison is expected to earn another chance after senior appearances, a Northern Ireland debut and a new Liverpool contract. Will Wright, Keyrol Figueroa and Josh Sonni‑Lambie have also been involved in first‑team training this week, keeping them firmly in the conversation.

For Iraola, the three‑game US tour is a practical test; he needs bodies for training and matches and evidence of who can cope physically, tactically and mentally with senior demands, as well as insight on loanees and positional reinforcement.

LIVERPOOL’s established internationals will return in a staggered fashion, creating a short‑term opening for younger and returning players to gain visibility, and pre‑season impressions will shape internal conversations as the new head coach establishes his hierarchy.

Not every academy player will make the flight – some will feature in friendlies at Kirkby over the weekend – but the wider message is clear: Liverpool are prepared to look within while external transfer work continues.