Inside Iraola's first week at Liverpool and big decisions he faces

Andoni Iraola replaced Arne Slot as Liverpool head coach in June [Getty Images] It is always difficult to know what to make of pre-season and how much of it is worth reading into before the real stuff begins. Iago Aspas scored and got an assist for Liverpool on his debut in a pre-season friendly in 2013 but only scored one competitive goal - against Oldham in the FA Cup - before returning to Spain the next summer. For Andoni Iraola though, this has been the week where life at Liverpool has really started. It's the time to plant the seeds for what he and Liverpool hope will be the start of a fruitful era. On Monday, the new head coach delivered his first press conference at the AXA Training Centre, a day before the bulk of the first-team squad returned to training. A positive Iraola took the opportunity to insist that Liverpool need more signings, and that will certainly accelerate now that the World Cup is concluding. Nevertheless, the news of Dominik Szoboszlai signing a five-year deal is certainly an important development. Of the many decisions Iraola will have to make, appointing a vice-captain will be key. Virgil van Dijk played every minute for Liverpool in the Premier League last season before playing for Netherlands at the World Cup. At the age of 35 and with his contract expiring next summer, Liverpool must look ahead for when, in all likelihood, they will need a new skipper. In terms of seniority, goalkeeper Alisson Becker would be an option but his contract also expires next summer, so Szoboszlai is the standout candidate. "I'm 25. Mo left, Robbo left, so our vice-captain left and a club legend as well. Both of them are club legends. We're going to miss them for sure and now someone else has to step up and if it's me, I'm ready to do it," said Szoboszlai, who captains Hungary. Iraola signed a two-year deal with Liverpool [Getty Images] At the Kirkby training base, the players spent the first couple of days undergoing the usual individual tests before getting on the pitch with the ball on Thursday and Friday. Iraola is heavily involved in these sessions and often says "bravo" when he sees something he likes. The intensity is evident to see, particularly in the training videos uploaded by Liverpool's official channels. Iraola and his coaching staff spend most of their day at the training ground - with a major emphasis on assessing the capabilities of the current squad. The new head coach has told players that he's viewing them as new signings. Harvey Elliott returned a week earlier than expected while Curtis Jones looks like "he has had a great summer", according to one source. Jeremy Jacquet, who has been given the number five shirt, is settling in nicely and has recovered from his shoulder injury. On the whole, the players have returned in "good nick", with medical staff impressed. When it comes to endurance, under Jurgen Klopp the players would do a lactate test while it was a six-minute race test under Slot. Iraola's fitness test is slightly different - players move on a pitch with diagonals and cones to replicate changes of direction with high intensity. "It's deceptive as your legs just go," defender Joe Gomez can be heard saying to Jones. Those at the training ground say there is certainly a youthful vibe to the squad, with eight players on World Cup duty yet to join. As one source puts it: "This really is a chance for a new group to emerge before more of the seniors return." "Definitely there are going to be changes," Iraola told Stan Sports in an interview. "A lot of senior players, players who have won everything here have left and we need other players to not replace them but assume (more responsibility) in terms of inside and outside the pitch." Coming into a club the size of Liverpool has certainly been different for Iraola but there is a general respect around the building for the 44-year-old and the job he did at Bournemouth. If his first week is anything to go by, Iraola is confident and certainly comfortable but not necessarily box office. Perhaps one way to put it for now is that his presence won't be felt yet like it was with a big character like Klopp. Those who know him well believe he won't change his ways and Iraola said as much in his introductory press conference. Come Monday afternoon, Liverpool will be flying across the Atlantic to Chicago, where they will be based for their pre-season tour that also includes fixtures in Nashville and New York. That trip will offer Iraola the first real chance of working with an expanded group of players, with most of the remaining first team squad expected to join up, and a range of academy players also travelling, including 15-year-old Josh Abe. Either side of the three scheduled friendlies, where most will get playing time, double training sessions are scheduled in the heat. Both Iraola and his squad will know that from now on, the pressure will only heat up too. Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views Ask about Liverpool - what do you want to know?