Iraola happy with signings as Barcola set for debut

Andoni Iraola says he is "very happy" with all of Liverpool's signings since his arrival and that it is down to him to "develop" the squad.

Liverpool had four major incomings this summer, including the £123m purchase of Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain.

Barcola will be available for selection for Liverpool's Premier League game against Ipswich Town on Friday.

The Reds opted against strengthening at right-back and in central midfield and Iraola has defended that decision.

"Do I want more signings? In the end, the club has decided those signings we have done are the ones that will improve our team, improve the positions," Iraola said.

"There were other options that we decided not to take for different reasons, sometimes sporting or economical. It didn't make sense in the market for those moves.

"But I'm happy now. I have a lot of quality in the team. Now it is the moment is for me and the players to develop what we have."

A £60m deal for centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, who arrived this summer, was done in January and, under Iraola, Liverpool have signed winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5m and defender Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona.

Liverpool elected not to replace Curtis Jones, who joined Inter Milan in a £30m deal.

Jones made 49 appearances for Liverpool last season, and Iraola now has four senior central midfielders to chose from in Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo, as well as youngster Trey Nyoni.

"In midfield we have good numbers," said Iraola.

"Now it's a matter of getting the right calls from myself. I'm finding now the best combinations and we are going through a period now where we will play a lot of games and we'll have a chance to see the options we have and the combinations we have.

"It's a matter of coaching."

Iraola said he was "glad to keep Cody Gakpo because he is a valuable player" after Manchester City had a £80m bid for the Dutchman rejected.

Gakpo has one goal and one assist in Liverpool's first two league games of the season - both of which ended in draws.

Iraola is yet to win a game as Liverpool boss but there certainly wasn't any sense of panic when he spoke to the media for the first time since the transfer window ended.

Iraola said he feels "much more comfortable" now that he knows what players he has to work with and insisted that the responsibility is on him to "develop" what Liverpool have and that it is about "coaching and taking decisions".

Liverpool admired Iraola's trait of developing players across his coaching career when they came to appointing him, and now is the time to see what he can do.

Admittedly, Liverpool have lacked quality depth in their first two games, albeit with a number of players out injured, and Iraola's insistence that he is "very happy" with all the signings they made suggests that there is a general feeling of satisfaction internally with the summer activity.

When you include the Jacquet signing, Liverpool had the highest net-spend of any Premier League side this summer.

"I want to win. I need to win," said Iraola, after his side drew 2-2 against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.

It is early doors still, but Iraola knows three points at Ipswich will make things a lot more comfortable for him.