Andoni Iraola addressed the media on Thursday, ahead of his first official match at Anfield as Liverpool boss. Nottingham Forest will be the visitors to Merseyside come Saturday lunchtime, and there was plenty of Iraola to discuss with the assembled journalists at AXA Training Centre.
On top of questions about transfers, both incomings and outgoings, as well as Liverpool's style, the Basque head coach was given the opportunity to clarify why two senior players were not even on the bench for the Premier League opener against Newcastle United last Sunday.
Starting with Federico Chiesa, because that is a bit more similar, this is what Iraola had to say:
"Fede is not available. In the game against Como he felt something at the back and it’s a small muscle injury. He is not available. "Andoni Iraola on Federico Chiesa
Persistent injury issues have derailed Chiesa's Liverpool career, and even his time at Juventus before that. The Italian international has still started only two Premier League matches for the club since arriving almost exactly two years ago. This injury surely rules out the possibility of the 28 year old leaving before the window closes on Tuesday, but perhaps the same cannot be said of Harvey Elliott.
The 23 year old is back on Merseyside, following a nightmare loan spell at Aston Villa. This will have made Elliott desperate for regular first team minutes at Liverpool, but these may not be coming his way. Iraola was pretty honest when explaining the midfield's lack of selection against Newcastle:
"With Harvey... I can only choose 20. Harvey is trying and improving every week but I still prefer other options, about the balance on the bench. That's why James McConnell was in the squad, but it's now another new week and new chances for everyone. They have to keep that mentality."Andoni Iraola on Harvey Elliott
The Reds' bench on Tyneside looked particularly thin, considering it featured youngsters Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, who Iraola referenced by name, and Lewis Koumas, who was introduced for his Premier League debut. One could argue that, with Alexis Mac Allister and Víctor Muñoz in reserve, there was no need to Elliott, given that both midfield and right wing were covered, but it is still not a great look for him, is it?
If the 23 year old is not even among the substitutes again on Saturday, could this see him push for a move before the deadline on 1 September? This is a situation worth monitoring for sure.
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