Like a celebrity couple wanting to dismiss rumours of a rift or break-up, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai were eager to show the cameras there was no trouble in paradise.
Not quite holding hands down the streets for the paparazzi but, after a public spat on the Yankee Stadium pitch on Wednesday night that saw the pair and Kostas Tsimikas animated and clearly having a row, the Liverpool pair were keen to quieten talk of an issue.
For those who missed the event, the duo were seen arguing at full-time of the Reds’ 1-0 win over Wrexham in New York City on Wednesday night.
Internet sleuths and online conspiracists instantly clicked into gear and, hours later, there were several theories. One working hypothesis was that Jones was irked at how Szoboszlai passed the captain’s armband to Tsimikas and not him.
Another is that Jones is off to Inter (which may well end up being true) and he was agitated about that. The truth is more that tensions were running high after a zapping pre-season full of tough training sessions and travel, so the pair showed a bit of passion and emotion. Not a bad thing.
But here at Chicago Fire HQ on the suburbs of the so-called Windy City by the banks of Lake Michigan, Jones and Szoboszlai were the first out to training and made a point of walking out together with Tsimikas, the trio doing keepy-ups as they took to the field.
Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai were spotted in a heated discussion after Liverpool’s win over Wrexham
Andoni Iraola was directing drills like an orchestra conductor during Liverpool’s training session
Apparently, earlier in the day, they were also spotted at the team’s downtown hotel, also inseparable. Best of pals. A little friendship row, we’ve all had them.
There are two conclusions here, then: either it was a calculated stunt to silence the fans going into overdrive about two players arguing or they are mighty fine actors. For now, at least, the verdict is that all is fine and the issue is resolved.
Jones’s future is less clear-cut. Inter are pushing hard to sign him and, via intermediaries, have informed Liverpool they will be willing to pay around £30m – £5m short of their price-tag.
Head coach Andoni Iraola publicly insisted he wants the locally-born midfielder to stay but it appears the Italian champions, who have already signed one Englishman this summer in John Stones, are going to push hard having had a couple of bids already turned down.
Jones’s potential exit throws into focus the need for new signings, plus the fact defenders Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni missed training on Friday afternoon to instead focus on recovering from fitness issues in the gym.
Sporting director Richard Hughes has been in the United States, working from afar on signing Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain and other players, while Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon is also understood to be here. Both may need to get the chequebook out to back Iraola before the new season starts.
The new Basque boss has shown a willingness to work with the younger players in the squad and that was obvious at this session at Chicago Fire HQ, which is an apt way to sum up the training camp: some of the players looked on fire with intensity not seen for a long time.
Szoboszlai put it well a day earlier when he said that Liverpool now have ‘the intensity that had been missing’ last season. Without mentioning former boss Arne Slot by name, it was a significant comment as some players felt aggrieved at training sessions last year.
Iraola has come in and injected a new lease of life around the place and that was evident here. Players seemed to all be having fun and everything felt quicker, vibrant and intense.
The former Bournemouth boss was hands-on, directing drills like an orchestra conductor. Players would be pulled over for a chat, though the boss seems more of a complimentary coach than one to berate his troops. Always smiling.
Maybe that is needed after a season of doom and gloom where, at times, these top-level professionals looked like they wanted the earth to swallow them up. A miserable year, but positive vibes are everywhere you look (apart from the gym, full of stricken defenders also including long-term absentee Conor Bradley).
Iraola’s assistant Tommy Elphick was vocal and even pulled on a yellow bib to take part in a set-piece drill. Maybe because of the lack of defensive numbers, the former Aston Villa and Brighton centre half was tasked with heading away Florian Wirtz corners.
Iraola’s fellow right-hand man Shaun Cooper was also heavily involved in those drills, where Alexander Isak looked particularly sharp and young forward Josh Sonni-Lambie also caught the eye at the back post.
One would not like to draw too many conclusions from observing training sessions, especially given some of Slot’s drills were also impressive, but the first signs of the intense Iraola are all positive.
There was also time to observe new Chicago Fire striker Robert Lewandowski, who was finishing a shooting drill on a nearby pitch for the MLS outfit, who he has just signed for.
A player who has been there, done that and bought the T-shirt many times over with 662 career goals for clubs like Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, it was a joy to see him up close and personal.
Given Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is out for several months and Isak has had fitness issues of his own, the mind was wondering to whether Lewandowski could be a canny loan for Iraola. Then he went and spooned a penalty into the Chicago skyline…
