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Andoni Iraola hands Harvey Elliott and Federico Cheisea setback with Como decision Liverpool named a slightly stronger side than expected for the first of two friendlies against Como, but Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa's inclusions don't seem too promising for the pair Andoni Iraola has given perhaps his clearest indication yet on the futures of Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa — and it doesn’t seem too promising for the pair at Liverpool. Both players have been named in the starting line-up for the Reds’ first friendly against Italian side Como on Sunday. The opening game will be played behind closed doors at Anfield as Iraola looks to get as much game time into his players as possible. With the new season now just a week away, the Liverpool boss will be expected to name a strong side for the second friendly, and perhaps give a hint to his thinking ahead of the opener at Newcastle on August 23. Iraola has named a stronger line-up for the first friendly than some might have expected. Alexis Mac Allister makes his first appearance of the summer for the Reds, having returned to training during the week after reaching the World Cup final with Argentina. Giorgi Mamardashvili, Wataru Endo, Kostas Tsimikas and new signing Victor Munoz are also named in the line-up, but the inclusion of Elliott and Chiesa feels as though it could be a major blow to the pair’s hopes in particular. Both players went into the summer with their futures looking more than uncertain, with Elliott having endured a nightmare loan at Aston Villa, while Chiesa has rarely featured since joining Liverpool from Juventus in 2024. Most would have expected them to exit the club this summer, although speculation over their futures has quietened down recently, and both have indicated that they want to fight for their places in Iraola’s side following Arne Slot’s firing earlier in the summer. "I'm wearing this strip again and putting this shirt on, and I just want to be free, and just play as much as I can, and just enjoy, because sometimes I don't feel like I do it enough. Playing at Liverpool, there's no better feeling,” Elliott said of returning to Anfield. Meanwhile, Chiesa said of his future: "Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool. I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything. "I am doing the best I can to have a chance here. And then we will see. At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool. I don’t know, it is difficult to say [if this is a fresh start]. It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the year." Liverpool FC have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27, inspired by iconic adidas strip worn during the club's 1989/90 title-winning campaign. With Iraola expected to name a stronger team for the second friendly against Como, his side for the first game does feel like an indication of where some players stand in his plans. Mac Allister and Munoz’s inclusions come with the mitigation of them arriving back at training later than the rest of the squad, having gone the distance at the World Cup, while Mamardashvili, Endo and Tsimikas will be expected to act as backup for the season ahead. Elliott and Chiesa being named in the side though feels as though it could be Iraola confirming that neither player is in his immediate plans for his strongest side. Considering both can play on the right wing — a position where Liverpool is lacking options at the moment — it does feel as though the writing may be on the wall for both of them.