Andoni Iraola has a new Liverpool midfield option and he just made clear he's 'ready to go'

Andoni Iraola has a new Liverpool midfield option available to him, and he has just made clear he's "ready to go" ahead of the upcoming pre-season tour to the US

If you assume that Andoni Iraola is going to play a similar system at Liverpool to what he did at Bournemouth, then it will look something like a 4-2-3-1.

Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai can play the roles of Tyler Adams and Alex Scott, with Florian Wirtz, the No. 10, operating as Liverpool's Junior Kroupi. Cody Gakpo and a new signing on the right can fill the flanks, with Alexander Isak in place of Evanilson.

On paper, there are strong options in most areas when it comes to the first XI. But what about depth? Iraola admitted last week that more numbers are required, and Liverpool is working to make that happen in the transfer market.

It would be fair to expect several of the existing stars to step up too, though. Wirtz and Isak are yet to justify their massive price tags, and players like Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister are capable of much more than they showed last term.

Meanwhile, young stars like Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni will anticipate getting a bigger role too. If the latter stays put, rather than heading out on loan, he is ready for more action — and will be hoping to prove that this summer.

"It's exciting times ahead," Nyoni said. "It’s been good to be back and to see everyone again and I’m ready to go.

"There are still a few players away [due to the World Cup] so obviously there’s an opportunity to play [in the USA] and just show what I can do in that sense. But I'll just go out there and just enjoy it and just try to do my best."

Had Arne Slot still been at Liverpool, Nyoni could have expected to see his role increase. But that Iraola comes in to offer everyone a fresh slate will further underline the opportunity that pre-season provides.

"He’s very friendly," Nyoni, speaking to club media, continued. "He’s very welcoming to everyone and I think he communicates quite well. Managers will always have their different styles, it's just about us adapting to it. But it is exciting.

"At the minute, I'm just focused on performing as well as I can in training and games, and just trying to enjoy my football as well. I think that's the most important thing because if you enjoy your football, then you'll perform better."

Next season, given his poise on the ball and elegance in possession, Nyoni should find his way onto the field more often.

If there are four 'first choice' options for the deepest-lying midfield — Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Curtis Jones — he should be the fifth.

There is Wataru Endo as well, of course, and his experience should be a useful attribute. But Nyoni is the future, and his skillset is much more suited to the type of style that Iraola has been tasked with implementing.

"I think this season [the aim] is just keep progressing and just keep pushing, but obviously it all starts now with pre-season," Nyoni added. "That's the most important thing at the minute, and then the season will follow."

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