Andoni Iraola, Liverpool's newly appointed head coach, has made clear that his overriding ambition at the club is to assemble a squad capable of challenging for major honours.

Speaking to reporters during Liverpool's preseason tour of the United States, Iraola outlined a philosophy rooted in hard work and effort on the pitch rather than grand promises off it.

"The supporters have to feel identified with what they see on the pitch. Sometimes it's not just about putting one ball in the top corner. A lot of times the ones watching the game are — OK, they cannot do it, but they can run, they can fight for the balls, they can press, they can fight until the last line for every situation — and when they see this from the players of their team it's easier to get behind that team. I will encourage my team to give them these things."

Iraola was equally candid about what he sees as the core of his role at Anfield, dismissing rhetoric in favour of results.

"The most important thing that we can deliver is our performances. It doesn't matter if I speak well, if I don't speak well, if I say the right things or if I don't say the right things. At the end people just want to see the team play well and deliver good results. I know this is 90% of my job."

The Spaniard painted a picture of the team he wants to build — one defined by its resilience and difficulty to overcome.

"For me, now, it is about creating a very good team to beat, a very difficult team to beat. The team that I envision now, that I see and think of, if we become that team, I think we are going to be successful."

Preseason schedule and the road ahead

Liverpool open their preseason programme against Sunderland in Nashville next Saturday, with further friendlies to follow against Wrexham, Leeds United, Monaco, and Como as the squad builds match sharpness ahead of the new campaign.

To mount a genuine title challenge in the Premier League — something that eluded Liverpool last season — Iraola will likely need significant investment in the transfer market to strengthen his options across the squad.