Iraola Hints Liverpool Duo Mac Allister and Munoz Could Miss Season Opener
Andoni Iraola has suggested he may be without Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz for his first competitive match as Liverpool head coach.
The Basque manager’s Premier League campaign begins with a trip to Newcastle United on the opening weekend of the 2026/27 season on 23 August. He will already be missing several long-term absentees, including Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike, for the visit to Tyneside.
Liverpool’s World Cup players are returning gradually over the coming weeks, but Mac Allister and Munoz will be among the last, having featured in the final on Sunday.
Speaking in Chicago on Tuesday, Iraola hinted that the Argentina midfielder and Spain winger may not be fully ready for the Premier League opener due to limited training time after their post-tournament break.
“I think the most difficult situations logically will be Alexis and Victor because they played until the end of the tournament, so I think they deserve their holidays and some rest also,” the head coach said.
“I hope they have time to at least train with us a little bit, but it is true that it will probably affect the beginning of the season a little bit. We cannot only think in the short-term and the first game against Newcastle.
“We have to also understand, especially in the case of Alexis, who played a lot of minutes during the season and a lot of minutes in the World Cup, that they deserve this rest. All the others should be fine to arrive in perfect conditions to the first game.”
Squad Management Challenge Ahead
Liverpool typically allow players three weeks off following summer international tournaments. Under that schedule, Mac Allister and Munoz would not be expected back at the AXA Training Centre until 10 August at the earliest — leaving them with less than two weeks to prepare for the Newcastle fixture.
Additional rest could push their return even later.
Iraola highlighted the heavy workload Mac Allister has carried over the past 12 months:
| Period | Appearances | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 55 | 3,885 |
| Argentina | 16 | 1,227 |
| Total | 71 | 5,112 |
The Argentine international is expected to be a key figure again this season, making any additional recovery time valuable.
By contrast, Munoz did not play at the World Cup. He will need as much time as possible to adapt to Iraola’s methods and his new teammates, so an early return would be beneficial.
With Liverpool competing on four fronts in the coming campaign, careful player management will be essential — particularly with existing long-term injuries already thinning the squad.
While fans are eager to see the full squad available, rushing players back risks further setbacks. Striking the right balance between rest and readiness will be one of Iraola’s first major tests.
