Pressure set to intensify as season gets under way

[Getty Images] For Andoni Iraola, the waiting is almost over and there was certainly a sense of excitement as he spoke to the media before Liverpool's first Premier League game of the season, even if his squad feels thin at the moment. Iraola is confident that things will be better come the end of the transfer window, in terms of attacking options, but stressed the need to adapt given how the market works. The focus will be on "improving the squad because we already have very good players here". And the expectation around Anfield is that it will be a busy end to the transfer window for Liverpool. Curtis Jones is on his way out and Iraola's assessment of that was that he "understood the situation", even though he liked what Jones offered and wanted to keep him. For now, all eyes are on Sunday where the focus will turn on Alexander Isak as he makes his return to St James' Park. "Everyone will be very motivated and I think it is going to be the same for Alex," said Iraola. After a season to forget last year for both Isak and Liverpool, the pressure is on to make sure things are different this season. Iraola spoke about how "lovely" it has been to see the scale of the club whenever they travel, but he will be well aware too that the pressure will only intensify once the campaign gets under way.