Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has voiced concerns regarding his squad’s ability to maintain performance levels after the team threw away a two-goal lead in a pre-season defeat to Monaco. The match, which served as Iraola’s first at Anfield, drew a sell-out crowd eager to witness the start of a new era, yet the result highlighted ongoing issues with squad depth. Liverpool have now recorded two wins and two losses during their pre-season campaign.
Reflecting on the performance, Iraola noted the similarity to their previous outing against Leeds. “It was quite similar to the game we played against Leeds,” Iraola told LFC TV after the match. “We played a good first half, especially a good 30 minutes. Right now we probably don’t have much more, in terms of the levels required to play like this. They deserved to turn around the game.”
The manager admitted that the current group struggles to sustain that intensity throughout the full duration of a match. “We won the first two pre-season games, but the last two we cannot sustain the level we want for all of the game. As soon as we made some changes, players start to get tired and we cannot sustain that level. So, we have work to do,” he added.
Iraola has two pre-season games remaining—a double-header against Como on 16 August—before their Premier League season begins. In two weeks, when they start their top-flight campaign at Newcastle, the question remains as to who will partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Van Dijk made his return against Monaco alongside Alisson and Cody Gakpo following an extended post-World Cup break.
Van Dijk started the game with 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who showed promise but will likely head out on loan due to work permit issues. It spoke volumes about the current defensive depth that Liverpool finished the match with Luke Chambers and Wataru Endo in the centre-back positions.
Regarding reinforcements, Ronald Araujo, 27, underwent his medical on Sunday as his season-long loan move from Barcelona—which includes an option to buy for approximately £47.2m—nears completion. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Jeremy Jacquet is yet to join full training following his move from Rennes. Jacquet has been managing a minor knee issue following a shoulder injury earlier this year. “Jeremy Jacquet, we were in doubt whether to put him in,” said Iraola. “We decided not to, but he should be fine for the next one. It’s taking a bit more time than we were expecting.”
Despite the defeat, there were positive signs from the club’s high-profile signings. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, who cost a combined £225m last summer, are expected to play an integral role this season. They combined effectively, with Wirtz operating behind Isak in the number 10 role, resulting in an early goal from Isak with a lovely right-footed finish.
Wirtz was arguably Liverpool’s best player on the pitch. Following his goal against Leeds in Chicago last week, he appeared to score the second goal against Monaco, though Isak admitted post-match he was unsure who provided the final touch. “I think we agreed that me and Flo, we both got a touch on the ball, but honestly I don’t know who got the first one or the last one,” Isak told LFC TV.
Looking ahead to the new season, Isak expressed optimism about the squad’s direction under the new manager. “Really good. I feel like the spirit is good in the group and we’re all working hard to make things work. We’re going to make sure that we’re ready for the start,” he said. Iraola, who noted in his programme notes that he wants to build a team the fans can identify with, will look to finalize his tactical setup against Como next weekend.
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