Seven Liverpool stars risk missing Premier League opener as World Cup deep runs loom

Andoni Iraola may be forced to begin his Liverpool tenure without several key players when the Premier League season kicks off on the weekend of 22 August, with as many as seven first-team regulars potentially requiring extended rest after deep World Cup runs.

The Premier League fixture list is due to be revealed on Friday morning, giving Iraola his first look at the schedule he must navigate. The Spanish head coach, who succeeded Arne Slot at Anfield, faces a delicate balancing act if any of his internationals reach the World Cup final on 19 July — leaving only a month’s recovery window before the season begins.

The Netherlands represent the greatest single source of disruption. Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo are all integral to Ronald Koeman’s squad, which faces Sweden and Tunisia alongside Japan in Group F. Van Dijk has already made an impression on the tournament, scoring against Japan in the Netherlands’ opening fixture. Should the Dutch progress to the final, all three players would likely need a carefully managed return to club football.

Florian Wirtz adds to the concern. The Liverpool forward contributed an assist in Germany’s 7-1 opening win over Curacao as Julian Nagelsmann’s side pursue a fifth World Cup title from a group that also includes Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

Alexis Mac Allister is chasing back-to-back World Cup glory with Argentina. The 27-year-old was not yet a Liverpool player when he lifted the trophy in 2022, and he remains contracted to the club until 2028 despite reported transfer interest. Argentina opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick.

Alisson Becker rounds out the list of potential absentees. Brazil’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, he recovered from a fitness concern in time to secure his place in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad and played in their opening draw with Morocco.

Iraola will be eager to collect three points from the first game of his reign, but the scale of Liverpool’s World Cup involvement means his pre-season planning could be significantly disrupted regardless of how the tournament unfolds.